Abstract:
A self-adhesive activity paper applicator dispenses a strip of paper from an internal roll directly onto a wall and then cuts it to length. The activity paper comprises pre-applied strips of temporary pressure-sensitive adhesive, beneficially having preprinted images. The applicator covers part of a wall to allow a child to color or draw upon the paper. When the child is done drawing the activity paper can be removed without damaging wall. The applicator has a pair of handles and a bottom wheel that facilitates accurate and level deployment of paper. The applicator may be disassembled to refill the paper roll.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     There are currently no applications co-pending with the present application. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The presently disclosed subject matter is directed to child drawing activities. More particularly the invention relates to self-adhesive activity paper applicators that dispense child drawing and activity paper from an internal roll onto a wall and cuts it to length. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Even in this age of computer art, interactive educational software, and realistic computer gaming, age old activities such as finger painting and coloring with crayons remain favorite activities for children. The available rainbow of colors coupled with their ease of use, classic touch, feel and scent, makes coloring a widely enjoyed pastime. Its low cost and ease of use also makes coloring popular with care-givers, particularly when care is being given to more than one (1) child. Furthermore, coloring is frequently used to aid the development of young children. 
     Unfortunately many children just beginning to learn how to use finger paints and crayons end up using room walls as their canvas. In fact drawing on vertical surfaces is often preferred by some children. Caring for multiple children only makes this problem worse. This not only quickly makes a room look disastrous but removing crayon from walls can be very difficult and often a complete repainting of the room is required. 
     Accordingly, there exists a need for some way by which children can be allowed to express their creativity by coloring upon walls without damaging those walls. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention utilizes a vertical dispensing system which dispenses a strip of paper from an internal spool. This strip of paper would be approximately eight to seventeen inches (8-17 in.) wide depending upon the individual model. The paper is held to the vertical wall surface by use of removable adhesive strips similar to those used on POST-IT® notes. A suitable amount of paper would be dispensed depending upon the size of the room or other conditions of use. It is envisioned that the paper reel would be provided with preprinted character outlines in a wide variety of themes depending upon the child&#39;s age and sex. Some examples include stuffed animals for younger children, animals or cartoon characters for older children, and the like. The invention permits a child to color on the paper while it is on a wall. This not only stimulates creativity, but also protects the wall from marks. When the child has completed coloring or otherwise becomes bored, the invention can be removed leaving no telltale marks behind. The dispensing system has two (2) handles and an extended wheel to enable accurate and level deployment of activity paper. 
     A paper system that is in accord with the present invention includes an elongated cutter body having an elongated paper slit. Attached to the cutter body is an elongated transparent cylinder that includes an elongated paper slot that encompasses the paper slit. The cylinder has a threaded top, a threaded bottom, and a handle. An upper cap having a top handle and an upper spool receiver is screwed onto the top of the cylinder while a lower cap having a wheel and a lower spool receiver is screwed onto the bottom. Disposed between the upper and lower spool receivers is a paper spool for holding activity paper. The paper system further includes a cutter assembly having a blade that is located within the cutter body and which passes through the paper slit. 
     Activity paper having horizontal temporary adhesive strips on its backside can be mounted on the paper spool and extended through the paper slit. Such paper can be preprinted with indicia such as letters, pictures, and lines. Beneficially the paper spool can be removed by detaching either the upper cap or said lower cap, and the cylinder can be detached from the cutter body, inverted, and then reattached. To that end, the cylinder includes a plurality of symmetrically arranged apertures and the cutter body includes a plurality of symmetrically apertures connector tangs which are used to attach the cutter body to the cylinder. 
     To assist applying the activity paper to a wall, the cutter body holds a plurality of rollers that extend from the cutter body near the cutter slit. To protect the walls the rollers are beneficially felt covered and are arranged in pairs. 
     The paper system includes an “L”-shaped elongated cutting slot that extends from a surface adjacent the cylinder through the paper slit. The cutter assembly includes a cutter actuator that is coupled to the blade and which extends from the cutting slot. The cutter actuator can move along the cutting slot to slide the blade along the paper slit to cut the activity paper that extends from the paper slit. Preferably the blade is connected to the cutter actuator by cutter plate, and the cutter actuator extends from the cutting slot using a button-shaped handle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like elements are identified with like symbols and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an environmental view of an in-use self-adhesive paper system  10  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of an applicator  19  used in the self-adhesive paper system  10  shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the self-adhesive paper system  10  shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4   a  is a section view of the self-adhesive paper system  10  taken along section line A-A of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4   b  is a section view of the self-adhesive paper system  10  taken along section line B-B of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5   a  is a front view of a cutter assembly  50  used in the self-adhesive paper system  10  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 ; 
         FIG. 5   b  is a rear view of a cutter assembly  50  shown in  FIG. 5   a;    
         FIG. 6   a  is a section view of the self-adhesive activity paper system  10  taken along section line B-B of  FIG. 2 , but showing a left-handed use of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6   b  is a section view of the self-adhesive activity paper system  10  taken along section line B-B of  FIG. 2 , but showing a right-handed use of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a section view of a upper cap assembly  80  taken along section line C-C of  FIG. 2 ; and, 
         FIG. 8  is a section view of a lower cap assembly  100  taken along section line D-D of  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10  self-adhesive paper system 
               15  activity paper 
               17  adhesive 
               19  applicator 
               20  cylinder assembly 
               22  cylinder body 
               23  cylinder paper slot 
               24  cylinder handle 
               26   a  upper male threaded region 
               26   b  lower male threaded region 
               28  connector aperture 
               50  cutter assembly 
               52  cutter body 
               54  cutter actuator 
               56  slider slot 
               57  slider plate 
               58  connector tang 
               60  cutter slit 
               62  roller 
               63  roller axle 
               64  cutter blade 
               65  blade slot 
               66  cutter assembly paper slit 
               80  upper cap assembly 
               82  upper cap 
               84  upper cap handle 
               85  rotational feature 
               86  upper cap female threaded region 
               88  upper spool receiver 
               90  paper spool 
               100  lower cap assembly 
               102  lower cap 
               104  wheel 
               105  wheel axle 
               106  lower cap female threaded region 
               108  lower spool receiver 
               120  floor 
               125  wall 
               130  user 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 8 , and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention, and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     The principles of the present invention provide for a child drawing and activity paper applicators for quickly applying easily removed activity paper to walls.  FIG. 1  shows an environmental view of a preferred embodiment child drawing and activity paper applicator in the form of a self-adhesive paper system  10 . The self-adhesive paper system  10  applies a removable adhesive-backed activity paper  15  onto a wall  125  so that children can draw on the wall without damage. The self-adhesive paper system  10  uses an applicator  19  which dispenses a horizontal strip of the activity paper  15  onto the wall  125  from a paper spool  90  (reference for example  FIG. 3 ). A cutter assembly  50  is then used to vertically cut the activity paper  15  at a desired length. 
     The activity paper  15  is envisioned as being approximately three feet (3 ft.) high and up to fifty feet (50 ft.) in length. However, it should be understood that different heights and lengths of activity paper  15  may be used based on a user&#39;s  130  preferences. Thus, the envisioned dimensions should not be interpreted as a limiting factor of the self-adhesive paper system  10 . The activity paper  15  adheres to the wall  125  using pre-applied temporary adhesive  17  that is located on the back of the activity paper  15 . Ideally the adhesive  17  is deployed in horizontal stripes. The adhesive  17  beneficially comprises a compound similar to that used on POST-IT® notes. The self-adhesive paper system  10  permits a child to color on the activity paper  15  while protecting the wall  125  from crayon markings and other associated damage. When the child has completed coloring, the activity paper  15  can be removed without leaving marks or damaging the wall due to the temporary nature of the adhesive  17 . 
     The activity paper  15  as illustrated herein as a plain white activity paper  15  having two (2) strips of adhesive  17 . However, the activity paper  15  may be preprinted with a variety of themes, characters, designs, borders, colors, and the like. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 1 , the applicator  19  comprises two (2) handles  24 ,  84  and a bottom wheel  104 . This arrangement allows the user  130  to apply the activity paper  15  using the handles  24 ,  84  while the self-adhesive paper system  10  glides over the floor  120  on the bottom-mounted wheel  104 . This configuration of handles  24 ,  84  and wheel  104  enables parallel dispensing of activity paper  15  onto the wall  125  with respect to the floor  120 . The self-adhesive paper system  10  further includes threaded cap assemblies  80 ,  100  which may be unscrewed and removed to enable easy refill of the activity paper  15  (see  FIG. 3 ). 
     Refer now to  FIG. 2 , a front perspective view of an applicator  19  used in the self-adhesive paper system  10 . The applicator  19  enables dispensing the activity paper  15  accurately onto the wall  125 . The applicator  19  is a segmented assembly including a transparent cylinder assembly  20 , a directionally configurable cutter assembly  50 , the upper cap assembly  80 , and the lower cap assembly  100  (see  FIG. 3 ). 
       FIG. 3  shows an exploded view of the self-adhesive paper system  10 . The cylinder assembly  20  retains a cylindrical roll of activity paper  15  so it can be dispensed on the wall  125  (see  FIG. 1 ). As shown, the cylinder assembly  20  comprises a hollow cylindrically-shaped cylinder body  22  made of a durable transparent plastic. The cylinder body  22  has a front positioned, substantially rectangular paper slot  23 , an upper male threaded region  26   a  for attachment of the upper cap assembly  80 , a lower male threaded region  26   b  for attachment of the lower cap assembly  100 , and connector apertures  28  both above and below the paper slot  23 . The apertures  28  enable removable attachment of the cutter assembly  50 . The upper  80  and lower  100  cap assemblies respectively provide an upper spool receiver  88  and a lower spool receiver  108  which secure the paper spool  90  along the centerline of the applicator  19 . As noted the activity paper  15  is mounted on the paper spool  90 . 
     The cutter assembly  50  attaches to the cylinder body  22  via a plurality of integral protruding barbed connector tangs  58  which are inserted into and retained within the connector aperture  28 . The connector tangs  58  are beneficially symmetrically arranged to enable inverted attachment of the cutter assembly  50 . This enables easy dispensing and cutting of the activity paper  15  on the wall  125  either towards the left or right (also see  FIGS. 4   a ,  4   b ,  5   a  and  5   b ). 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b , section views depicting attachment and cutting, the cutter assembly  50  is attached to the cylinder assembly  20  via corresponding and interlocking connector apertures  28  and connector tangs  58 . The connector tangs  58  are inserted into the connector apertures  28  where they “snap” fit. The connector tangs  58  are easily removed from the connector apertures  28  by “unsnapping” them. This enables quick and easy detachment of the cutter assembly  50  from the cylinder assembly  20  when desired. 
     Attachment of the cutter assembly  50  to the cylinder assembly  20  allows routing activity paper  15  within the cylinder body  22  through the cylinder paper slot  23  and subsequently through a cutter assembly paper slit  66  of the cutter assembly  50 . The cylinder paper slot  23  is made with right and left side mirror-image surfaces that guide the activity paper  15  through the paper slit  66 . 
     From the paper slit  66  the activity paper  15  is routed between the wall  125  and exterior rollers  62  of the cutter assembly  50 . The cutter assembly  50  operates along an ovular-shaped cutter body  52  which is beneficially a solid plastic structure similar in height to the cylinder body  22 . 
     The cutter assembly  50  provides for attachment of paper-cutting devices including a cutter actuator  54 , a guiding slider plate  57 , and a cutter blade  64 . The cutter blade  64  comprises a metal razor blade-like tool configured to accurately cut the activity paper  15  vertically. The cutter blade  64  is manually actuated and guided by the cutter actuator  54  and slider plate  57 . The cutter blade  64  is similar to the commercial and consumer devices used to cut cellophane, various paper products, and the like. 
     The cutter blade  64  and the slider plate  57  are internally captivated and linearly guided within the cutter body  52  via respective blade slot  65  and slider slot  56 . The blade slot  65  and the paper slit  66  cross over each other, thereby enabling the activity paper  15 , which is supported within the close-fitting paper slit  66  to be accurately and cleanly cut by the cutter blade  64 . The cutter actuator  54 , slider plate  57 , and cutter blade  64  constitute a unitary structure with the slider plate  57  being located at the end of the cutter blade  64 . The cutter actuator  54 , slider plate  57 , and cutter blade  64  are moved vertically by a user  130  via manual manipulation of the externally protruding cutter actuator  54 . The slider plate  57  and the cutter actuator  54  are vertically guided within the “L”-shaped slider slot  56  which is molded within the cutter body  52 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b , front and rear views of the cutter assembly portion  50  of the self-adhesive paper system  10 , the vertical slider slot  56  allows for manually guided vertical motion of the cutter blade  64  (not shown, see  FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b ) and the cutter actuator  54 . In use, a user  130  cuts the activity paper  15  by motioning the externally accessible button-shaped cutter actuator  54  from an upward starting position within the slider slot  56 , downwardly to a bottom position, thereby correspondingly motioning the cutter blade  64  through the activity paper  15 . 
     The cutter body  52  further comprises four (4) rollers  62  being that are attached along a rear surface of the cutter body  52  and along a common vertical axis. The rollers  62  rotate freely upon respective roller axles  63  that are integrated into the cutter body  52  (see  FIG. 4   b ). The rollers  62  are envisioned as cylindrical plastic members having an outer covering of felt or equivalent soft material to protect the wall  125  as the activity paper  15  is dispensed. Furthermore, the rollers  62  are preferably arranged in vertical pairs in the cutter body  52  which are aligned with the adhesive  17  of the activity paper  15 : one (1) pair aligned with a top strip of adhesive  17 , and a second pair aligned with a bottom strip of adhesive  17 . This arrangement provides coincidental positioning with respect to the pre-applied adhesive portion  17  to enable application of pressure to the adhesive  17  to secure the activity paper  15  to the wall  125  (see  FIGS. 1 and 6   b ). 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b , section views of the self-adhesive paper system  10  depicting left and right directional dispensing of the activity paper  15 , the applicator  19  dispenses the activity paper  15  in either the left or right direction. This is accomplished by removing, inverting, and reinstalling the cutter assembly  50  on the cylinder assembly  20 . The symmetrically positioned connector tangs  58  enable attachment to respective connector apertures  28  of the cylinder body  22  (see  FIGS. 4   a  and  5   a ). Bi-directional operation of the self-adhesive paper system  10  enables dispensing the activity paper  15  in either direction as well as enabling easy use by both left-handed and right-handed users  130  (see  FIG. 1 ). 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , section views of an upper cap assembly  80  and a lower cap assembly  100  of the self-adhesive paper system  10 , the upper  80  and lower  100  cap assemblies comprise respective injection-molded plastic upper cap  82  and lower cap  102 . The upper  82  and lower  102  caps provide respective attachments for an upper cap handle  84  and a lower cap wheel  104 . The upper cap  82  and lower cap  102  provide for threaded attachments and closures of the intermediately located cylinder body  22  via respective upper cap female threaded region  86  and lower cap female threaded region  106 . The upper and lower cap female threaded regions  86 ,  106  respectively engage with matching thread upper male threaded region  26   a  and lower male threaded region  26   b  of the cylinder body  22 . 
     Additionally, the upper  80  and lower  100  cap assemblies capture and stably position the paper spool  90  along a common vertical center line via respective upper spool receiver  88  and lower spool receiver  108 . The spool receivers  88 ,  108  comprise integrally-molded hollow cylindrically-shaped forms having open end portions dimensioned to receive the ends of the paper spool  90  (also reference  FIGS. 2 and 3 ). 
     The upper cap assembly  80  has the attached upper cap handle  84  which includes an integrally-molded rotational disc feature  85  along at its bottom end. The upper cap handle  84  preferably takes the shape of an arcuate right angle appendage which provides a horizontal grasping feature for the user  130  while manipulating or carrying the self-adhesive paper system  10 . The rotational feature  85  is loosely encompassed within the upper cap  82  so as to allow the upper cap handle  84  to rotate freely. 
     The lower cap assembly  100  locates the wheel  104  along the bottom of the lower cap  102 . The wheel freely rotates on a center wheel axle  105  to allow the self-adhesive paper system  10  to smoothly glide along the floor  125  to accurately dispense the activity paper  15  on the wall  125  parallel to the floor  120  (see  FIG. 1 ). 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention. While only one particular configuration is shown and described that is for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the self-adhesive paper system  10 , it would be assembled and utilized as indicated in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 . 
     The method of preparing the self-adhesive paper system  10  to apply activity paper  15  to a wall surface  125  is achieved by the following steps: procuring a model of the self-adhesive paper system  10  having a desired height; selecting a roll of activity paper  15  having a corresponding height and, if desired, pre-printed themes, designs, borders, color, and the like; loading the activity paper  15  into the applicator  19  by removing the upper cap assembly  80 ; inserting the paper spool  90  into the cylinder assembly  20  and into the lower spool receiver portion  108  of the lower cap assembly  100 ; inserting the roll of activity paper  15  over the paper spool  90 ; feeding and extending a short length of activity paper  15  through the cylinder paper slot  23  of the cylinder assembly  20 ; attaching the upper cap assembly  80  to the cylinder assembly  20 ; orientating the cutter assembly  50  either for right-hand or left-hand operation of the self-adhesive paper system  10 ; feeding the activity paper  15  through the cutter assembly paper slit  66 ; attaching the cutter assembly  50  to the cylinder assembly  20  by coincidentally inserting the connector tangs  58  into the corresponding connector apertures  28  until obtaining a secure snapping connection; and, routing the extended end of the activity paper  15  across the roller portions  62  of the cutter assembly  50 . The self-adhesive paper system  10  is now ready to apply the activity paper  15  to a desired wall  125 . 
     The method of utilizing the self-adhesive paper system  10  to apply activity paper  15  to a wall  125  may be achieved by performing the following steps: holding the self-adhesive paper system  10  securely with both hands by grasping the cylinder handle  24  and the upper cap handle  84 ; orientating the self-adhesive paper system  10  such that the activity paper  15  is parallel to the wall  125  onto which the activity paper  15  is to be applied; resting the wheel portion  104  of the lower cap assembly  100  on an adjacent floor  120 ; pressing the rollers  62  against the activity paper  15  and wall  125 , thereby enabling the adhesive  17  of the activity paper  15  to adhere to the wall  125 ; moving the self-adhesive paper system  10  across the wall  125  while maintaining contact between the rollers  62  and the wall  125  until a desired length of activity paper  15  has been dispensed; terminating the activity paper  15  by moving the cutter actuator  54  downward within the slider slot  56  to cause the cutter blade  64  to vertically cut the activity paper  15 ; using the self-adhesive paper system  10  to dispense and adhere additional sections of the activity paper  15  as desired; using the affixed activity paper  15  for coloring, drawing, and the like; and then removing the activity paper  15  for when desired by detaching the temporary adhesive  17  of the activity paper  15  from the wall  125 . The self-adhesive paper system  10  provides a user  130  the ability to allow children to draw or color in a creative manner while protecting the wall  125 . 
     It is understood that the activity paper  15  may be replenished with a new roll of activity paper  15  as needed or it may be replaced with other activity paper  15  having different pre-printed characteristics. This is accomplished by removing the remaining activity paper  15  from the applicator  19  and performing the loading and preparing steps described above. 
     Additionally, the self-adhesive paper system  10  may be easily reconfigured for application of the activity paper  15  to the wall  125  in an opposite direction by detaching the cutter assembly  50  from the cylinder assembly  20  as described above; vertically flipping the cutter assembly  50 ; feeding the end of the activity paper  15  through the cutter assembly paper slit  66 ; reattaching the cutter assembly  50  to the cylinder assembly  20  via respective connector tangs  58  and connector apertures  28 ; and, utilizing the self-adhesive paper system  10  to adhesively apply the activity paper  15  in an opposite direction as described above. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions or substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.