Abstract:
A painting device for applying a paint product and that includes a frame with a handle end and a support end and that has one and another sides. The one side of the support end of the frame includes spaced apart flanges that retain therebetween a paint roller and the another side of the support end of the frame includes a wall member and opposed end wall surfaces that together retain a paint pad device.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates in general to a painting device and pertains, more particularly, to an improved painting device that incorporates in an integral manner both a paint roller and paint pad. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     At the present time there exists a number of different implements for assisting in painting, particularly in the interior of housings or buildings. These existing devices include, for example, a standard roller arrangement or a separate pad structure that is sometimes used for edging. However, a more universal painting device does not exist at the present time that can readily incorporate both the roller and pad functions. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved painting device and in particular one that integrally arranges for the use of both a roller and a pad structure. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved painting device that is relatively simple in construction, that is relatively easy to manufacture and that can be manufactured relatively inexpensively. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved painting device that includes a preferred single handle and yet can be readily moved into different positions for either a roller action or a pad action. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     To accomplish the foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention there is provided a painting device for applying a paint product and comprising: a frame that includes a handle end and a support end that has one and another sides; the one side of the support end of the frame including spaced apart flanges that retain therebetween a paint roller and the another side of the support end of the frame including a wall member and opposed end wall surfaces that together retain thereon a paint pad means. 
     In accordance with other aspects of the present invention the flanges each have a hole therein for receiving end posts of the paint roller; including, on the one side of the support end, a tapered wall surface that is contiguous with the handle and to which are attached the spaced apart flanges at end thereof; wherein the tapered wall surface has a top end that extends between the flanges and a smaller bottom end that merges with the handle; wherein the paint pad means comprises a base and a paint absorption layer attached to the base; wherein the base and paint absorption layer both include a right angle bend forming respective back and side pad sections; wherein the back pad section is for support against a back of the wall member and the side pad section is for support against an end wall surface; wherein the paint pad means comprises a pair of paint pads, each including a right angle bend forming respective back and side pad sections; wherein each paint pad has end engagement ribs, one rib on a free end of the back pad section and another rib on a free end of the side pad section; wherein the wall member has a central aperture for receiving respective one ribs of the pair of paint pads at opposed side edges of the aperture; wherein the opposed end wall surfaces of the support end of the frame each have engagement ledges for receiving respective another ribs of the side pad sections; wherein the paint pad means comprises a pair of paint pads, each including a right angle bend forming respective back and side pad sections, and the wall member has a central aperture for receiving respective ends of the pair of paint pads at opposed side edges of the aperture and wherein the opposed end wall surfaces of the support end of the frame each have engagement ledges for receiving respective free ends of the side pad sections. 
     In accordance with another version of the present invention there is provided a painting device of claim for applying a paint product and comprising: a frame that includes a handle end and a support end that has one and another sides; the one side of the support end of the frame including means for retain therebetween a paint roller and the another side of the support end of the frame including wall means for retaining thereon a paint pad member. 
     In accordance with other aspects of the present invention the means for retaining the paint roller comprises a pair of spaced apart flanges; wherein the means for retaining the paint pad member comprises an interlock means between the pad member and wall means; wherein the paint pad member comprises a pair of paint pads, each including a right angle bend forming respective back and side pad sections; wherein each paint pad has end engagement ribs, one rib on a free end of the back pad section and another rib on a free end of the side pad section; wherein the wall member has a central aperture for receiving respective one ribs of the pair of paint pads at opposed side edges of the aperture and wherein the opposed end wall surfaces of the support end of the frame each have engagement ledges for receiving respective another ribs of the side pad sections. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       It should be understood that the drawings are provided for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to define the limits of the disclosure. The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the embodiments described herein will become apparent with reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a preferred embodiment of the roller device frame; 
         FIG. 2  is a left side view of the roller device frame; 
         FIG. 3  is a rear view of the roller device frame; 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the roller device frame; 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of a preferred embodiment of the painting device with the added roller and pad structure; 
         FIG. 6  is a left side view of the painting device with the added roller and pad structure; 
         FIG. 7  is a rear view of the painting device with the added roller and pad structure; 
         FIG. 8  is a top view of the painting device with the added roller and pad structure; 
         FIG. 9  is a top view similar to that shown in  FIG. 8  but with portions of the structure cut away to illustrate further details; and 
         FIG. 10  is an exploded perspective view of the painting device of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference is now made to the drawings and in particular to  FIGS. 1-4 .  FIGS. 1-4  illustrate the basic frame construction. This is preferably constructed of a hard plastic material.  FIGS. 5-8  illustrate various views also of the frame but with the roller and pad structures supported by the frame.  FIG. 9  is a partially cut away front view illustrating further details and  FIG. 10  is an exploded perspective view. The roller itself may be of conventional design as is presently used with a standard handle that is used in the industry. The pad structures are particularly designed for use in accordance with the present invention. 
     The painting device is comprised of a frame  10  that includes a handle  12 . The handle  12  may be square, rectangular or circular in cross-section. In  FIG. 10  the handle  12  is illustrated as of cylindrical shape and has an internally threaded port for receiving a threaded end of a pole  14  that can be used as an extension for the painting device. The frame  10  also generally includes a support end  16  that is integral with the handle  12  and that is for support of the roller  30  on one side thereof and support, on the other side thereof, a pair of paint pad members  40  and  50 . Both the roller  30  and paint pad members  40  and  50  are interlocked with the frame in a readily releasable manner so that they can be changed or removed to be cleaned. 
     The frame  10  includes at its support end  16 , a slanted wall  18  that has a pair of spacedly disposed flanges  20  extending therefrom. The flanges  20  are the basic means for retaining the roller  30 . For this purpose, the roller  30  is provided with end pieces  32  each having an end post  34  that is for engagement in a hole  22  in the respective flanges  20 . For this purpose, the flanges  20  are preferably somewhat deflectable so that sufficient space can be provided between the flanges for engagement of the posts  34  in the holes  22 . Each of the end pieces  32  has a smaller diameter portion that is adapted to snugly fit within the end of each roller.  FIG. 10  shows the pieces  32  exploded away from the roller  30  while  FIG. 9 , for example, illustrates one of the end pieces  32  engaged in the roller  30  with the post  34  disposed in the hole  22  of the flange  20 . 
     The other side of the support end  16  of the frame is for support of the paint pad members  40  and  50 . For this purpose there is provided a rear wall  60 , a top wall  62  and opposite side walls  64 . The side walls  64  extend toward the front, toward flange  20  leaving an engagement channel  65  for engagement on either side with the respective pair of pad members  40  and  50 . Also the top wall  62  extends rearwardly to define a rear edge  66 . See also the left-side view of  FIG. 2 . The edge  66  is disposed adjacent to the pad members  40  and  50  and provides a convenient edge when the pads are used in inwardly facing corners such as at an area where two walls join in a room, or at the baseboard of a wall. 
     Each of the paint pad members  40  and  50  includes a relatively rigid base member  42 ,  52 . In this regard refer to the exploded perspective view of  FIG. 10 . It is noted that each of these bases  42 ,  52  are constructed with a right angle turn and thus each includes a side section  43 ,  53  and a corresponding rear section  45 ,  55 . Over each of these right angle base layers is provided a fabric layer  47 ,  57 . The material of  47 ,  57  is conventional material that is presently used in planar paint pad structures. This material is absorbent to paint and may be provided in different levels of nap. 
     In order to hold the two paint pad members  40  and  50  in place, there is provided a means for retaining them to the frame. For this purpose, the wall  60  is provided with a central aperture  61 . In this connection refer to  FIGS. 7 ,  9  and  10 . In particular,  FIG. 9  shows the manner in which one of the pad members, namely, pad member  40  is engaged with the frame. 
     Each of the pad members  40  and  50  have respective end ribs. Thus, pad  40  has end ribs  48  and  49 , while pad  50  has end ribs  58  and  59 . These ribs are clearly illustrated in the exploded perspective view of  FIG. 10 . Also, refer to the cutaway top view of  FIG. 9  that illustrates the end ribs  48  and  49 . The more centrally disposed ribs  49 ,  59  are engaged at the aperture  61  in the wall  60 . Once again,  FIG. 9  illustrates the left hand pad member  40  with its rib  49  engaged in a side edge of the aperture  61 . The outer ribs  48 ,  58  are engaged with respective channels  65 . This is also clearly illustrated in the cutaway view of  FIG. 9  that illustrates, in connection with pad member  40 , the end rib  48  that engages with the channel  65 . The opposite pad member  50  is engaged in the same manner with the opposite channel  65 . Refer also to the front view of  FIG. 1  that illustrates the frame without the pads mounted but certainly illustrates the opposite side channels  65 . The pad members  40  and  50  have sufficient flexibility so that they can be readily snapped in place with the central ribs engaging with the aperture  64  and with the outer respective ribs engaging with the respective channels  65 . The pad members can also readily be removed by, for example, pressing on the ribs  49 ,  59  to disengage with the central aperture  61 . 
     One of the important features of the present invention is the ability to be able to simply reverse the frame basically through 180 degrees so as to change from the roller side to the pad side. On the roller side the user can engage the handle with the roller facing toward the wall surface that is to be rolled. For doing cornering and edging, then the user simply rotates the frame so that the pad side is facing the wall surface. The right angle pad members are quite convenient for doing inner corners. The edge  66  is useful in providing an edger so that the pad members can be used to apply paint very close to a baseboard or a ceiling area. Both the roller and pad pieces can be readily inserted into the frame and also easily removed from the frame for the purpose of being discarded or cleaned. When the pad side is being used, the slanted surface  18  is helpful in that the user can use the thumb on that surface while the remainder of the hand is about the handle. This provides a convenient way for guiding the pad side of the painting device. When using the roller side against the wall, basically the user need only grasp the handle  12 . 
     Having now described a limited number of embodiments of the present invention, it should now be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous other embodiments and modifications thereof are contemplated as falling within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. One variation of the present invention can involve the roller  30 . Instead of providing end posts on the roller, the flanges could be provided with a post and the end pieces of the roller could be provided with a hole.