Paint shields and painting methods

Self-supporting paint shields have at an end thereof a continuously annular wall portion defining an opening for receiving a circular object to be shielded. This annular wall portion has around that opening a tapering brim and has across that opening a diameter different from a diameter of that circular object. The annular wall portion is adaptable in diameter to the circular object and is adapted to extend with its tapering brim to a surface to be painted, while the continuously annular wall portion is in contact with the circular object at the mentioned end, thereby exerting a gripping action supporting the paint shield on the circular object. The paint shields preferably have a circumferential bevel extending in a continuous transition from an outer shield surface to the paint shield opening. Such opening preferably is smaller in diameter than the circular object, and the paint shield is twisted at the annular wall portion onto that object.

Field of the Invention 
The subject invention relates to painter's equipment and painting methods 
and, more specifically, to methods of applying paint to a surface 
exclusive of a shielded further surface or object, to work and object 
surface shields, masks and protectors, and to paint shields and shielding 
assemblies. 
Information Disclosure Statement 
This information disclosure statement is made pursuant to the duty of 
disclosure imposed by law and formulated in 37CFR 1.56(a). No 
representation is hereby made that information thus disclosed in fact 
constitutes prior art inasmuch as 37CFR 1.56(a) relies on a materiality 
concept which depends on uncertain and inevitably subjective elements of 
substantial likelihood and reasonableness, and inasmuch as a growing 
attitude appears to require citation of material which might lead to a 
discovery of pertinent material though not necessarily being of itself 
pertinent. 
The current proliferation of high-pressure spray guns among unskilled 
people, such as through purchase or rental from wholesale paint stores, is 
giving rise to various problems including serious hand injuries which are 
difficult to treat as, for instance, reported in an article by Cameron A. 
Gillespie, M.D., et al, entitled "Airless Paint Gun Injuries: Definition 
and Management," which appeared in THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SURGERY, Vol. 
128, September 1974, pp. 383-391. Reference should also be had to an 
article by Herbert H. Stark, M.D. on "Paint-Gun Injuries of the Hand," 
which appeared in THE JOURNAL OF BONE AND JOINT SURGERGY, Vol. 49-A, No. 
4, pp. 637-647, June 1967. As apparent from that article, high-pressure 
airless spray guns bring about serious and tragic injuries not readily 
preventable by existing safetey devices. Also, as apparent from CONSUMER 
REPORTS, June 1978, p. 333, the Consumer Product Safety Commission found 
many existing guards ineffective to provide the requisite protection. 
Moreover, general practitioners do not necessarily know how a paint 
injection injury should be treated, thereby increasing their danger, as 
apparent from

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
The accompanying drawings, by way of example, show assemblies for 
facilitating painting of a surface 12 surrounding a raised circular object 
13 which may be mounted on or affixed to the surface 12. In the drawings, 
the surface 12 to be painted is a surface of a door 14 having a lock or 
latch mechanism 15 actuated by a door handle or knob 16 having the raised 
object 13 as a cover plate or element on the surface 12. In practice, what 
has been termed herein as "raised object" may in fact be just the latter 
element, sometimes called "rosette" or "rose," or the larger door knob 
structure 16 or a significant part thereof. 
Another example of a raised mounted object is shown in FIG. 1 in the form 
of a cover plate or element 17 of a key-operated door lock. The paint 
shields of the subject invention may also be employed to shield raised 
objects of the type of lock portion 17, or may be manufactured for, or 
adapted to shielding other kinds of raised objects surrounded by surfaces 
18 to be painted. 
In this respect, the accompanying drawings show low-profile cover plates 13 
having a height at the circular rim on the order of one-eighth of an inch 
or three millimeters. It is a special feature of the illustrated and 
herein disclosed preferred embodiments of the subject invention that their 
paint shields can be applied to, and will self-supportingly be retained 
on, such low-profile cover plates or objects, while being also suitable 
for shielding of, and self-supporting retention on, cover plates having a 
height on the order of one-quarter of an inch or six millimeters, or 
similarly dimensioned objects. 
According to the illustrated preferred embodiments of the subject 
invention, the devices 21 shown therein comprise an inherently 
self-supporting paint shield 22 or 23; that is the paint shield, unlike 
masking tape, is self-supporting apart from the object being masked or 
shielded. 
The self-supporting paint shield 22 or 23 has at an end 24 or 25 thereof an 
annular wall portion 26 or 27 defining an opening 28 for receiving the 
raised object 13 or 17. Unlike wound masking tape and wound or spiral 
paint shields, and unlike other paint shields having some discontinuity, 
such as those shown in the above mentioned Kahn U.S. Pat. No. 2,925,064, 
Farrell U.S. Pat. No. 3,722,470 and Harrington U.S. Pat. No. 4,195,590, 
the wall portion 26 or 27 is continuous and is thus referred to as a 
"continuously annular wall portion." 
The continuously annular wall portion 26 has around the opening 28 a 
tapered or tapering brim portion 31 or 32. 
In the relaxed or rest position of the paint shield 22 or 23, that is, 
before such paint shield is placed onto an object 13 or 17, the 
continuously annular wall portion 26 or 27 has a diameter different from a 
diameter 33 of the circular object 13. As shown in FIG. 2 in dotted lines, 
the continuously annular wall portion 26 has across its opening 28 a 
diameter 34 smaller than the diameter 33 of the circular object and is 
adapted to expand in diameter when twisted onto such circular object 33. 
In more general terms, the annular wall portion 26 or 27 is adaptable in 
diameter to the raised object 13 or 17 and is adapted to extend with its 
tapering brim 31 or 32 to the surface 12, while in contact with the raised 
circular object 13 or 17 at the end 24 or 25 of the shield 22 or 23, 
whereby to exert a gripping action supporting the paint shield on the 
raised object. 
The annular wall portion 26 or 27 has a bevel 36 or 37 extending as, or as 
part of, the tapering brim 31 or 32 in a continuous transition to the 
paint shield end 24 or 25. In the illustrated embodiments, the bevel 36 or 
37 defines or delimits the tapering brim portion 31 or 32. The paint 
shield 22 or 23 has a body 38 or 39 for enclosing the object 13, 16 or 17 
behind the opening 28, as seen from such opening. 
In the illustrated preferred embodiments, the paint shield has a circular 
body 38 or 39 for supporting the annular wall portion 26 or 27 apart from 
the raised object, when the paint shield is removed from such object 13 or 
17. As seen in the drawing, the tapering brim portion 31 or 32 or annular 
lip 46 or 47 has or is provided with an inner wall surface 62 projecting 
at an angle to the circular body 38 or 39 from a diameter of the circular 
body larger than the above mentioned smaller diameter 34 (FIG. 2) to that 
smaller diameter 34 at, of or across the opening 28 for receiving the 
object 13 or 17. When the paint shield has been set on the object to be 
shielded, then such raised object 13 or 17 supports the paint shield body 
38 or 39 via the annular wall portion 26 or 27 of the shield 22 or 23. 
According to a preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the paint shield body 
38 has an air escape hole 41 therethrough. This, in practice, helps the 
setting of the paint shield on the raised object. A similar air escape 
hole (not shown) may be used in the paint shield 23 of FIG. 4. As seen in 
FIG. 3, the paint shield 22 has a circular hinge 43 between the body 38 
and the annular wall portion 26. By way of example, the circular or 
annular hinge 43 is formed by providing a circular indentation 44 inside 
of the paint shield 22. The same kind of indentation and circular hinge 
(not shown) may be employed in the paint shield 23 of FIG. 4. 
As seen particularly in FIGS. 3 and 4, the annular wall portion 26 or 27 
preferably is a continuously annular elastic lip 46 or 47 of the body 38 
or 39 defining the opening 28 for receiving the raised circular object 13 
or 17. In principle, the circular identation 44 may extend around and be 
located at the outside of the paint shield 22 or 23, as long as it does 
not interfere with the painting action or accumulate an undue amount of 
paint. 
In the illustrated preferred embodiments of the subject invention, the 
paint shield 22 or 23 has a circular body 38 or 39 with a circular outer 
surface, being self-supporting apart from the object 13 or 17, and having 
a continuously annular lip at an end 24 or 25 thereof; such annular lip 46 
or 47 defining an opening 28 having a diameter 34 smaller than a diameter 
33 of the circular object, as shown in FIG. 2. 
The annular lip 46 or 47 has a bevel 36 or 37 extending in a continuous 
transition from the circular outer surface of the circular body 38 or 39 
to, and having a tapering brim 31 or 32 at, a free end 24 or 25 of the 
annular lip. 
As seen in FIGS. 2 to 4, the annular lip 46 or 47 is elastically deformable 
for enlargement of the smaller diameter 34 and adaptation of the annular 
lip to the object 13 or 17 in self-supporting gripping action therewith at 
the surface 12 to be and being painted. An annular hinge 43 is preferably 
provided at the circular body 38 or 39 for connecting the annular lip 46 
or 47 to such circular body. 
The paint shield 22 according to FIGS. 1 to 3 has a hollow-cylindrical body 
38. On the other hand, the paint shield 23 shown in FIG. 4 has a tapered 
or frustoconical body 38 which, under some circumstances, may be easier or 
more convenient to handle and which permits a stacking of several paint 
shields upon each other. 
The subject invention also provides methods of applying paint to a surface 
12 or 18 surrounding a raised circular object 13 or 17. 
According to a preferred embodiment thereof, the invention resides in the 
improvement comprising, in combination, the steps of providing apart from 
the object 13 or 17 a self-supporting paint shield 22 or 23 having at an 
end 24 or 25 thereof an opening 28 for receiving the object, such opening 
being provided by a continuously annular wall portion 26 or 27 of the 
paint shield having around the opening 28 a tapering brim and having 
across such opening a diameter 34 smaller than a diameter 33 of the 
circular object and being adapted to extend to the surface 12 or 18 while 
in contact with the raised circular object 13 or 17 at the end 24 or 25. 
According to this preferred method of the invention, the object 13 or 17 is 
shielded with the paint shield 22 or 23 by twisting such paint shield at 
the annular wall portion 26 or 27 onto the raised object and advancing the 
tapering brim 31 or 32 to the surface 12 or 18, thereby adapting the 
annular wall portion in diameter to the raised object and exerting with 
the continuously annular wall portion 26 or 27 a gripping action 
supporting the paint shield 22 or 23 on the raised object 13 or 17. Paint 
48 may then be applied to the surface 12 exclusive of the shielded object 
13, 16 or 17. A spray paint gun (not shown) may be employed for applying 
the paint 48 to the object, but the shields of the subject invention may 
also be employed when, for instance, paint brushes or other implements are 
used to apply paint to the surface 12 exclusive of the raised object 13, 
16 or 17. 
According to the illustrated preferred embodiments of the subject 
invention, the object 13, 16 or 17 is shielded with the paint shield 22 or 
23 by twisting such paint shield at its annular wall portion 26 or 27 onto 
the raised object 13 or 17 and advancing the tapering brim portion 31 or 
32 to the surface 12 or 18 to be painted, thereby adapting the annular 
wall portion 26 or 27 in diameter to the raised object and exerting with 
such continuously annular wall portion a gripping action supporting the 
paint shield on the raised object on which it has been set. Paint 48 may 
thereupon be applied to the surface 12 or 18 exclusive of the shielded 
object 13, 16 or 17. 
As shown with the aid of FIG. 2, the continuously annular wall portion 26 
or 27 of the paint shield 22 or 23 is provided across its opening 28 with 
a diameter 34 smaller than the diameter 33 of the circular object 13 or 17 
and is adapted to expand in diameter when twisted onto such circular 
object, whereby the initial opening 28 of the shield is expanded to an 
enlarged opening 51 corresponding to the perimeter of the raised circular 
object onto which the shield is set. 
Upon removal of the shield from the raised object, the enlarged opening 51 
elastically returns to the smaller initial opening 28. To this end, at 
least the annular wall portion 26 or 27 or annular lip 46 or 47 are made 
of elastic material, such as natural or synthetic rubber, an elastomer or 
other substance having elastic properties similar to rubber. In this 
respect, the body 38 or 39 of the paint shield may be made of the same 
elastic material as the annular wall portion 26 or 27 or annular lip 46 or 
47. 
Prototype work has confirmed that paint shields so made with at least an 
elastic lip may readily be applied to such objects as doorknob cover 
plates of different diameters by twisting the shield thereonto as, for 
instance, illustrated in FIG. 4 for both of the paint shields 22 and 23. 
By way of example, the painter may pick up or engage a paint shield 22 or 
23 with his or her thumb 53 and finger 54 and advance it at its opening 28 
past the doorknob 16 to the cover plate 13. The paint shield 22 or 23 may 
thereby be held with its longitudinal axis at an angle to the longitudinal 
axis of the doorknob 16, or in such other manner that a part 56 of the 
annular wall portion 26 or 27 or lip 46 or 47 overlaps a corresponding 
part of the circumference of the cover plate 13. Unless the initial 
diameter 34 of the paint shield is close to the diameter 33 of the 
particular cover plate 13, another part 57 of the annular wall portion 26 
or 27 or lip 46 or 47 will thereby be pinched at the cover plate 13, 
abutting against a surface thereof facing in a direction away from the 
surface 12 to be painted. In order to move the entire annular wall portion 
26 or 27 or lip 46 or 47 onto the side or periphery 58 of the cover plate 
13, the paint shield 22 or 23 is twisted as indicated by the arrow 59 in 
FIG. 4. In this respect, the verb "to twist" or its continuous form 
"twisting" may be broad enough to denote the dictionary meaning of "to 
move forward while turning," as far as the motion or movement of the 
shield to and over the object 13 or 17 is concerned and as indicated, for 
instance, by the arrow 59, having components both in the direction of the 
cover plate 13 and surface 12 and around or about the doorknob 16 and 
cover plate 13. 
In this or any equivalent manner, the annular wall portion 26 or 27 or lip 
46 or 47 will spring or be wound, so to speak, onto the cover plate 13 at 
its circumference 58, until the entire wall portion or lip sits on that 
circumference, exerting a gripping action on the cover plate 13, thereby 
retaining the shield 22 or 23 in its shielding position at the surface to 
be painted. 
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the annular 
hinge 43 and internal circular groove 44, as shown by way of example in 
FIG. 3, provide the annular wall portion 26 or 27 or lip 46 or 47 with an 
elastic flexibility relative to the paint shield body 38 and 39. 
One of the outstanding qualities of the paint shield according to the 
subject invention is that it may be adapted to circular objects of various 
diameters and heights. While not limited to any particular application, 
doorknob cover plates of different diameters, heights and makes may thus 
be accommodated with one and the same paint shield. For instance, as shown 
at the right-hand side of FIG. 1, the paint shield 22 may also be employed 
to shield a raised circular object 17 of a diameter and height different 
from those of the circular object 13. 
The above mentioned features of the illustrated embodiments of the 
invention, including the provision of the bevel 36 or 37, of the paint 
shield body 38 or 39, of the air escape hole 41, of the annular hinge 43, 
of the internal circular groove 44 and/or of the elastic lip 46 or 47, 
may, for instance, be effected by injection molding or any other 
appropriate methods. 
Most advantageously, the paint shield 22 or 23 may be molded in one piece, 
including the body 38 or 39 and annular wall portion 26 or 27 with lip 46 
or 47. 
In principle, the initial opening of the paint shield could be made larger 
in diameter than the raised circular object 13 or 17, and could then be 
reduced in diameter to that of the object to be shielded, such as by means 
of a resilient band, adjustable clip or other tensioning means of the type 
shown or disclosed in the above mentioned parent application Ser. No. 
06/495,300. 
Within the broad scope thereof, the subject invention thus resides in a 
method of applying paint to a surface 12 or 18 surrounding a raised 
circular object 13 or 17 and, more specifically, provides apart from such 
object a self-supporting paint shield having at an end thereof an opening 
for receiving such object. According to the invention, that opening is 
provided by a continuously annular wall portion of the paint shield having 
across such opening a diameter different from a diameter 33 of the 
circular object and being adapted to extend to the surface 12 or 18 while 
in contact with the raised circular object at the end 24 or 25. Also 
according to the invention, the object is shielded with the paint shield 
by pushing the annular wall portion onto the raised object 13 or 17 to the 
surface 12 or 18, thereby adapting the annular wall portion in diameter to 
the raised object and exerting with the pushed annular wall portion a 
gripping action supporting the paint shield on the raised object. Paint 48 
may then be applied to the surface 12 or 18 exclusive of the shielded 
object. 
In structural terms, the invention resides in a device for shielding a 
surface surrounding a raised circular object 13 or 17 and, more 
specifically, resides in a combination comprising a paint shield being 
self-supporting apart from the object and having at an end 24 or 25 
thereof a continuously annular wall portion defining an opening for 
receiving the object, such annular wall portion having across its opening 
a diameter different from a diameter 33 of the circular object. Also 
according to the invention, the annular wall portion is adaptable in 
diameter to the raised object 13 or 17 and is adapted to extend to the 
surface 12 or 18 while in contact with such raised circular object at the 
end 24 or 25, whereby to exert a gripping action supporting the paint 
shield on the raised object. 
As seen in the drawings, including FIGS. 3, 5 and 7, the paint shield 22 or 
23 or the annular wall portion 26 or 27 has a circumferential outer wall 
portion 61 and a corresponding inner wall portion 62 converging toward 
each other from the paint shield body 38 or 39 toward the paint shield end 
24 or 25 or toward the opening 28. The converging wall portions 61 and 62 
thus delimit or define the tapering brim portion 31 or 32 or the elastic 
annular lip 46 or 47 tapering toward the end 24 or 25 or opening 28. In 
this manner, the annular wall portion 26 or 27 may be formed as a 
continuously annular elastic lip 46 or 47 tapering toward the shield 
opening 28 for forming the tapering brim portion 31 or 32. 
According to an embodiment of the subject invention, the tapering brim 
portion 31 or 32 is provided or preformed with a dull annular edge around 
the shield opening 28. 
For example, and as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the tapering brim portion may be 
provided or preformed with a flat annular edge 64 or 65 around the opening 
28. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the tapering portion is provided with a 
flat annular edge 64 extending radially of the continuously annular wall 
portion. As may be seen in FIG. 5, the flat annular edge 64 extends in a 
radial plane adjacent the continuously annular wall portion. The teachings 
of FIGS. 5 to 7 may be applied to both the brim portions 31 and 32 and to 
both the annular wall portions 26 and 27 even though only the brim portion 
31 is shown by reference numeral in FIGS. 5 to 7. 
According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the tapering brim portion 31 
is provided with a hollow-cylindrical edge 65 extending around the opening 
28. Since the annual lip 46 or 47 or brim portion is elastic, the flat 
annulus 65 may not be cylindrical in the relaxed condition of the shield, 
but is made to be cylindrical when the shield is set onto the object 13, 
as seen in FIG. 7, or in FIGS. 3 and 5 for that matter. 
Because of the dullness or flatness of the rim of the illustrated 
embodiment, damage to the rim portion during repeated settings of the 
shield on raised objects is minimized. Also, the elastic lip or rim 
portion is thicker and stronger at the edge of the opening 28 when the 
brim portion is dull or flat at such edge, than if it were razor-sharp. 
Accordingly, shields according to preferred embodiments of the subject 
invention are particularly well suited to accommodate themselves to raised 
objects 12, 17, etc., of various diameters, thicknesses or other 
dimensions, and are very robust and suitable for repeated use, displaying 
great retentivity and stability on various raised objects. 
A preferred range for the width of the annular flatnesses 64 and 65 is from 
0.2 to 0.5 mm. For instance, the tapering brim portions 31 may be provided 
with a flat annular edge 64 extending radially from the opening 28 for 
from 0.2 to 0.5 mm. Similarly, the tapering brim portion 31 may be 
provided with a hollow-cylindrical edge 65 having a width of from 0.2 to 
0.5 mm and extending around the opening 28. In this manner, occurrence of 
a clearly visible unpainted ring or halo around the object 13 is avoided. 
Alternatively or additionally, and as illustrated in FIG. 5, a method 
according to a further embodiment of the subject invention includes the 
step of spacing the paint shield 22 or 23 or brim 31 on the raised object 
13 from the surface 12 to be painted circumferentially around the raised 
object by a distance equal to a predetermined thickness .DELTA. of paint 
48 applied to the surface 12 around the shielded object 13. 
FIG. 5 of the accompanying drawings shows a method that may be used with 
any of the embodiments herein disclosed. That embodiment of the invention 
resides in a method of applying paint up to a predetermined paint 
thickness .DELTA. to a surface 12 surrounding a raised circular object 13, 
and includes the improvement comprising in combination the steps of 
providing apart from the object 13 a self-supporting paint shield 22, 
providing that self-supporting shield with a cylindrical wall portion at 
opening 28 adapted to extend about the raised circular object at right 
angles to the surface 12, and providing the cylindrical wall portion with 
a wall thickness d corresponding to the paint thickness .DELTA. and with a 
uniform diameter corresponding to the diameter of said raised circular 
object 13 so that the cylindrical wall portion is gripping the raised 
object when the shield 22 is set with its mentioned wall portion onto the 
raised object for self-supporting retention thereon. 
Prior to an application of paint 48 to the surface 12, the setting of the 
paint shield 22 preferably includes spacing the paint shield 22 on the 
raised object 13 from the surface 12 circumferentially around the raised 
object 13 by a distance equal to the paint thickness .DELTA.; that is, 
equal to the thickness of the paint 48 to be applied to the surface 12 
around the shielded object 13. In this manner, an unpainted halo around 
the raised object is effectively avoided. 
In practice, the spacing .DELTA. may, for instance, be realized by first 
twisting or pushing the shield 38 or 39 on the object to the surface 12 
and by then withdrawing such shield 38 or 39 on that object 13 by the 
distance .DELTA.. 
The currently discussed aspect of the invention thus resides in a device 
for shielding a raised circular object 13 during application of paint 48 
up to a predetermined paint thickness .DELTA. to a surface 12 surrounding 
that object, comprising a paint shield being self-supporting apart from 
that object and including when set on that object a hollow-cylindrical 
wall portion adapted to extend about the raised object 13 to the surface 
12 at right angles thereto, having a wall thickness d corresponding to the 
paint thickness and having when set on the object 13 a uniform diameter 33 
corresponding to the diameter of the raised circular object so that the 
hollow-cylindrical wall portion is adapted to grip said raised object 
uniformly around the circumference of said raised object as shown in FIG. 
5, whereby the shield is settable with its hollow-cylindrical wall portion 
onto the raised object for self-supporting retention thereon, and seals 
that object against penetration by wet paint. 
The following methods, apparatus and features may also be employed in 
implementing the embodiments herein disclosed. 
For example, in a method of applying paint 48 to a surface 12 surrounding a 
raised circular object 13, there may be provided apart from that object a 
self-supporting paint shield 22 or 23 provided with, or having when set on 
that object, a cylindrical wall portion extending about that raised 
circular object at right angles to the surface 12, as seen, for example, 
at 65 in FIG. 7 or at the object 13 in FIGS. 3 and 5, or as shown in the 
drawings of the latter parent application. That cylindrical wall portion 
is provided with a uniform diameter 33 corresponding to the diameter of 
the raised circular object so that the cylindrical wall portion is 
gripping the raised object whereby or when the shield 22 or 23 is set with 
that cylindrical wall portion onto the raised object 13 for 
self-supporting retention thereon, and paint is applied to the surface 12 
while shielding the object 13 with the set shield 22 or 23. The shield 22 
or 23 is thus settable with the mentioned wall portion onto the raised 
object 13 or 17 for retention thereon. The wall portion just mentioned 
preferably is provided with a circumferential bevel 36 or 37 extending to 
the surface 12 when the shield 22 or 23 or its wall portion is set onto 
the raised object. Where the paint shield or its wall portion defines a 
circular opening 28, that wall portion preferably has a bevel 36 or 37 
extending to that opening. 
According to an embodiment of the invention, the self-supporting shield 22 
or 23 is provided with a cylindrical wall portion adaptable in diameter to 
the raised circular object. 
The latter paint shield has a circumferential bevel 36 or 37 extending in a 
continuous transition from an outer surface of the cylindrical wall 
portion to a circular opening of the wall portion adapted to be placed 
adjacent the surface 12 surrounding the raised object 13. That raised 
object is gripped with the wall portion corresponding thereto in diameter 
whereby the shield is set with its wall portion onto the raised object 13 
for self-supporting retention thereon, and paint may be applied to the 
surface 12 while shielding the object 13 with the set shield. In this 
respect, the cylindrical wall portion preferably is provided with a 
uniform diameter for a gripping of the raised circular object 13 uniformly 
around the circumference of that circular object. 
My invention thus provides a paint shield being self-supporting apart from 
the object 13 and having a cylindrical wall portion adapted to extend when 
set on that object to the surface 13 at right angles thereto and having a 
uniform diameter 33 corresponding to the diameter of the raised circular 
object so that the cylindrical wall portion is adapted to grip the raised 
object uniformly around the circumference of that raised object whereby 
the shield is settable with its wall portion onto the raised object for 
self-supporting retention thereon. That paint shield preferably has a 
circumferential bevel 36 or 37 extending in a cylindrical outer surface of 
the hollow-cylindrical wall portion to a circular opening 28 of that wall 
portion adapted to be placed adjacent the surface 12 surrounding the 
raised object 13. The paint shield preferably has or is provided with a 
taper, as seen, for example, at 23 and 39 in FIG. 4, extending in a 
direction away from the bevel 36 or 37. 
Further embodiments within the scope of my invention are shown in FIGS. 8 
to 15. These embodiments also comprise an inherently self-supporting paint 
shield 21 or 115 having a wall 117 or 118 extending about the object 13 
while paint 48 is being applied to the surface 12. 
As seen, for instance, in FIGS. 8 and 12, the wall 117 or 118 extends or is 
positioned at an angle to the surface 12. This angle preferably is a right 
angle, at least in the vicinity of surface 12 or object 13. 
According to a preferred embodiment of the subject invention, illustrated 
particularly in FIGS. 10 and 15, the wall 117 or 118 has a taper 121 
extending to the surface 12 and sealing around the raised object 13. The 
taper 121 represents an important feature of the latter embodiments which 
permits the paint 48 to cover the surface 12 in extreme proximity to the 
raised object 13 without, however, leaving marks or dabs on that shielded 
object. 
According to the latter illustrated embodiments of the invention, the wall 
117 or 118 also has a hollow-cylindrical portion extending to the surface 
12 at right angles thereto, as seen particularly well in FIGS. 10 and 15. 
This also is an important feature of these embodiments, since it permits 
the paint shields to grip the raised object 13 most effectively for 
self-supporting, but manually releasable retention thereon, in proximity 
to the surface 12 being painted. 
The feature of a hollow-cylindrical front portion of the paint shield walls 
117 and 118 is advantageously combined with the feature of a 
circumferential outer taper or bevel 121 for optimum shielding of the 
object 13 coupled with maximized coverage of the surface 12. The 
hollow-cylindrical configuration of the paint shield or paint shield wall 
front portion synergistically combines effect with that of the 
circumferential bevel 121, inasmuch as a shield which extends over a 
raised object 13 at right angles or perpendicularly to the surface to be 
painted projects itself to a far lesser extent onto such surface 12 than a 
shield which would extend at an obtuse angle to such surface. In this 
respect as in the other illustrated embodiments the bevel extends in a 
continuous or smooth transition from a cylindrical outer surface of the 
wall portion to a circular opening of the wall portion (see, for instance, 
openings 28 and 136) adapted to be placed adjacent the surface 12 
surrounding the raised object 13. This is just the opposite of Eicholtz 
who requires a laterally projecting rim for retaining a lid on her dairy 
products container and of Farrell who relies on the thinness of the 
material out of which his shields are made to obtain full and clean paint 
coverage. 
By way of example, and not by way of limitation, the assemblies shown in 
FIGS. 8 to 15 of the drawings are adapted to facilitate painting of a 
surface surrounding a raised circular object. According to these 
embodiments, the inherently self-supporting paint shield has a circular 
wall corresponding in diameter to, and extending about, the raised 
circular object 13 for shielding such object during painting of the 
surface 12. The circular wall 117 or 118 preferably extends or is made to 
extend around the raised circular object, and preferably grips the raised 
circular object circumferentially. 
According to an embodiment of the subject invention, the paint shield, in 
addition to the bevel or taper 36, 37 or 121 extending to the surface 12 
and surrounding the raised object 13, may have a second taper 23 extending 
in a direction away from the bevel or first taper, as seen in FIGS. 4, 8 
and 12. 
The self-supporting paint shield also may have a closed bottom 124 covering 
the raised object 13 or 16. 
According to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 12 to 15, the 
paint shield 115 is composed of nested paint shield elements 125, 126 and 
127 extending about the raised object 13 for shielding that object during 
painting of the surface 12. Where the raised object 13 is circular, the 
nested paint shield elements 125 to 127 may also be circular, as seen in 
FIG. 13. 
An outer one of the elements 125 to 127, namely the element 125, has the 
previously disclosed bevel 121 extending to the surface 12 and surrounding 
the raised object 13. As seen in FIG. 15, it is this outer element 125 
which circumferentially grips the raised object 13. Most advantageously, 
the bevel 121 extending to the surface 12 and surrounding the raised 
object 13 may be provided on the hollow-cylindrical front portion of the 
outer paint shield element 125, as shown in FIG. 15. 
The innermost element 127 of the nested paint shield elements has a closed 
bottom 124 covering the raised object. 
The paint shields of the subject invention may also be employed to shield 
raised objects of the type of lock portion 17, or may be manufactured for, 
or adapted to, shielding other kinds of raised objects surrounded by 
surfaces to be painted. 
The subject invention also resides in methods of applying paint to a 
surface 12 surrounding a raised object 13 of specific or circular 
geometrical shape. According to this aspect of the invention, these 
methods comprise the steps of providing apart from the object 13 a 
self-supporting paint shield, and of providing such self-supporting shield 
with a wall 117 or 118 extending about the particular geometrical shape. 
In the case of a circular raised object 13, the self-supporting shield is 
provided with a circular wall 117 or 118 corresponding in diameter to the 
raised circular object 13. The shield is then set with the wall 117 or 118 
onto the raised object 13, and paint is applied to the surface 12 while 
shielding the raised object with the set shield. 
The disclosed method step of providing apart from the object 13 and surface 
12 a self-supporting paint shield distinguishes itself favorably from the 
most widely employed prior-art method of providing a masking tape which is 
typically supplied on a roll but is not inherently self-supporting. 
Rather, the masking tape, when pulled from the roll, is practically limp 
and has to be skillfully installed by the painter on and around the raised 
object 13. Frequently, the requisite skill and precision are lacking or 
cannot be exerted under specific practical circumstances. In consequence, 
painting jobs of the type herein considered, when executed with masking 
tape or similar auxiliary means, frequently lack the desired quality and 
neatness. 
The subject invention effectively counters these drawbacks by providing the 
paint shield as self-supporting apart from the object 13 or the surfaces 
to be painted and to be shielded, respectively. 
The paint shields according to the illustrated preferred embodiments of the 
invention are solid geometry paint shields having, for instance, a 
hollow-cylindrical overall configuration as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, an 
essentially cylindrical or conical configuration as shown in FIGS. 8 to 
11, or an overall frusto-conical configuration as shown in FIG. 12. 
According to the illustrated embodiments, the outer wall of the paint 
shields may be provided as a closed wall, as in the case of wall 117 shown 
in FIGS. 4 to 11, or as in the case of shield elements 125 to 127 shown in 
FIGS. 12 to 15. 
FIG. 11 is illustrative of a combination according to an embodiment of the 
invention, useful in methods of applying paint to surfaces surrounding 
raised objects. In particular, there are provided self-supporting paint 
shields 21 corresponding or being expandable in diameter to any diameter 
of circular objects 13 or 17. The paint shields are provided with a taper 
23 and such tapered paint shields are stacked onto each other at their 
tapers as shown FIG. 11. 
In practice, this provides considerable economy of space in storage and 
shipping of the paint shields and within the confines of the painter's 
tool or utility box. 
The method under consideration also includes the steps of removing the 
stacked paint shields 21 from each other, setting such removed paint 
shields onto raised circular objects 13 to cover each of these objects at 
least laterally, and applying paint to the surfaces 12 exclusive of the 
covered objects 13. Each paint shield 21 is provided with an opening 136 
for receiving one of the objects 13 and, in the embodiment of FIG. 11, for 
receiving another one of the tapered shields 21. The opening 136 of a 
shield is provided at a distance from its taper 23. On the other hand, the 
taper 121 is located at, or extends to, the shield opening 136 in the 
preferably hollow-cylindrical front portion of the shield. 
In the case of circular objects 13, the paint shields 21 or their walls 117 
are correspondingly circular. 
FIG. 11 in effect represents an apparatus for shielding raised circular 
objects during painting of surfaces surrounding such objects. The 
apparatus according to this embodiment of the invention comprises 
self-supporting circular paint shields 21 corresponding, respectively in 
diameter, to the circular objects 13, and having a taper 123, and being 
releasably stacked onto each other, as seen in FIG. 11. 
Each paint shield may be provided with a closed bottom 124 opposite its 
opening 136. In principle, the bottoms 124 could be omitted thereby 
leaving a rear opening in the paint shield opposite the front opening 136. 
This would still laterally shield the raised object, which may be 
sufficient in the case of brush painting or even narrow-angle spray 
painting. Provision of a closure or bottom 124 is, however, preferred 
where a complete enclosure of the shielded object is desirable or 
necessary. 
Stacked paint shield structures and techniques are also apparent from FIGS. 
12 to 15. In particular, the method illustrated in that embodiment of the 
invention composes a paint shield 115 of nested paint shield elements 125 
to 127, making one of these elements, such as the outer elements 125, to 
extend about the geometrical shape of the raised element 13. This paint 
shield is stored in a collapsed position or condition wherein the elements 
125 to 127 are located inside each other, as seen in FIG. 14. More 
precisely, a median element 126 is concentrically located inside the outer 
element 125, and innermost element 127 is concentrically located inside 
the median element 126. In practice, the collapsible shield 115 may be 
composed of only two of the stacked elements, or may be composed of more 
than three elements 125 to 127 in order to reduce the height of the 
collapsed shield. 
As seen in FIG. 12 relative to FIG. 14, the paint shield 115 is extended to 
an expanded position wherein the elements 125 to 127 jointly form the wall 
structure surrounding and covering the raised object 13 or 17. 
The extended paint shield 115 with its wall structure is set onto the 
raised object, and paint is applied to the surface 12 while shielding the 
object with the set shield 115. 
The innermost of the nested elements is preferably provided with a closed 
bottom 124 to provide complete coverage of the shielded object. In a less 
expensive and lighter version, the bottom 124 may, however, be omitted 
from the innermost element 127, when an only lateral shielding of the 
raised object is sufficient in particular circumstances. 
In practice, the paint shield 21 of FIGS. 8 to 11 may be manufactured with 
the aid of the type of technology employed in the making of various cups, 
with the various features of the subject invention being added or realized 
in the course of such manufacture or in extensions thereof. Similarly, the 
paint shield 115 may be made in the manner of a collapsible cup, with the 
features of the subject invention being again added or implemented as 
desired necessary. 
However, the best mode presently known to me for carrying out my invention 
is to provide the paint shield opening 28 by an annular elastic lip 46 or 
47 tapering toward that opening for accommodating any of the objects 13 
and 17 of different diameters. Any of these objects are then shielded by 
pushing the annular elastic lip 46 or 47 onto any of the raised objects 13 
or 17 thereby expanding the annular elastic lip at the opening 28 in 
diameter to any of the different diameters of the objects 13 and 27 and 
exerting with that pushed elastic lip a gripping action supporting the 
paint shield on any of these different objects. 
Paint may then be applied to the surface adjacent the latter object. The 
annular lip is elastically returned to an initial diameter 34 at the 
opening 28 upon removal of the paint shields from objects 13 and 17. 
If desired, paint shields according to embodiments of the subject invention 
may be manufactured so as to touch a second portion of the raised object 
to be shielded or a part thereof, for added support and retentivity of the 
shield. For instance, paint shields may be dimensioned to touch the outer 
portion of the raised object 16, as may be noted from FIGS. 8 and 12. 
Contrariwise, such contact may be avoided in practice when it is desired 
to render the paint shield more versatilely applicable. 
The front portion of any of the disclosed paint shields may be provided 
with an adhesive at their opening or front rim portion, to render the 
paint shield releasably attachable to a surface or object. 
According to the illustrated preferred embodiments thereof, the invention 
resides in devices for shielding a raised object 13 of specific 
geometrical shape during painting of a surface 12 surrounding such raised 
object and, in particular, resides in paint shields, being self-supporting 
apart from the object 13 and having a wall extending about the mentioned 
geometrical shape. In particular, as seen in FIGS. 3, 5, 7, 10,12 and 15, 
each paint shield may have a hollow-cylindrical wall portion, at least 
when set on the object 13 or 17, adapted to extend to the surface 12 at 
right angles or perpendicularly thereto and having a uniform diameter 
corresponding to the diameter of the particular circular object 13 or 17, 
so that the hollow-cylindrical wall portion is adapted to grip the raised 
object 13 uniformly around the circumference of such raised objects 
whereby the paint shield is settable with its wall portion on the raised 
object 13 for self-supporting retention thereon. 
The subject extensive disclosure suggests or renders apparent to those 
skilled in the art, various modifications and variations within the spirit 
and scope of the subject invention and equivalents thereof.