Abstract:
A paint roller edge shield is pivotally carried on a base plate mounted on a paint roller handle and disposed in a first shielding position immediately adjacent a free end of a rotatable roller and moveable to a second position spaced from the free end of the roller to allow paint to be applied to the roller. The edge shield is pivotally coupled by a hinge to the base for pivotal movement between the first and second positions about a first axis. The edge shield includes first and second portions which are pivotally coupled for rotation of the first end portion relative to the second end portion about a second axis of rotation perpendicular to the first axis of rotation of the entire edge shield. At least one stop is formed between the mating portions of the first and second end portions of the edge shield to limit angular displacement of the first end portion relative to the second end portion of the edge shield.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
         [0001]    The present invention relates, in general, to shielding apparatus used in painting to protect adjacent surfaces from paint applied by brushes and, particularly, rollers.  
           [0002]    When painting, a painter frequently encounters the edge of one surface being painted which abuts an adjacent surface. This can occur in the comer of a room between two adjacent walls, between a wall and an adjacent ceiling or trim molding, as well as around windows and doors where a frame or other surface being painted abuts a glass pane or screen.  
           [0003]    Care must be taken so that paint being applied to one surface does not flow over or contact the adjacent surface. This can be accomplished by manually applying tape along the edge between the two surfaces to mask the adjacent surface while paint is being applied to the other surface. Care must also be taken when removing the tape to ensure that any wet paint still does not seep behind the tape onto the adjacent surface which is not to be painted.  
           [0004]    Manually held shields are also known. Such shields may take a variety of forms but generally have a flat, straight edged surface which can be applied firmly on the surface which is not to be painted thereby allowing the painter to freely paint the adjacent surface or area. However, depending upon the angle of which such shields are held, paint can still seep around the edge of the shield onto the adjacent surface.  
           [0005]    A variety of shields have also been mounted on paint brushes and rollers. With these types of shields, the brush or roller, or the shield must be able to be moved relative to the other to enable the brush or roller to be dipped into fresh paint for refilling.  
           [0006]    It is believed that further improvements could be made to paint shields, particularly shields integrally mountable on paint rollers which provides the required shield function while at the same time being able to be easily applied to existing paint roller handles. It would also be desirable to provide a paint roller edge shield which is easily movable between operative and inoperative positions to provide both shielding and non-shielding functions wherein, when in the non-shielding position, the paint roller can be inserted into a tray for refilling of the roller with fresh paint.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0007]    The present invention is a paint roller apparatus with an edge shield for protection of surfaces adjacent to a surface having paint applied by the roller.  
           [0008]    In one aspect of the invention, the paint roller apparatus includes a handle and a roller support attached to and projecting from the handle and rotatably supporting a roller cover. The roller cover terminates in a free end. An edge shield is carried on the handle. The edge shield is moveably coupled to the handle for movement from a first shielding position adjacent the free end of the roller cover and a second position spaced from the roller cover to allow paint to be applied to the roller cover.  
           [0009]    The paint roller apparatus includes a base plate mountable on the handle, with the edge shield pivotally coupled to the base plate. A hinge pivotally couples the edge shield to the base.  
           [0010]    The edge shield has first and second portions. The second portion is coupled to the handle. A pivot connection is carried on the first and second portions of the edge shield to allow the first portion of the edge shield to pivot relative to second portion of the edge shield.  
           [0011]    The edge shield preferably includes a planar plate having first and second major side edges extending between opposed first and second ends. The first and second side edges taper from a large dimensional spacing at one at the second end of the edge shield to a smaller dimensional spacing at the first end of the edge shield.  
           [0012]    The pivot connection between the first and second end portions of the edge shield defines an axis of rotation perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the edge shield relative to the base. The pivot connection includes an open ended slot formed in an end of the second end portion of the shield. A tongue extends from one end of the first end portion of the shield and is pivotally disposed in the slot. A pivot pin is carried in the second end portion of the shield and extends through the slot and the tongue on the first end portion.  
           [0013]    A stop cooperates between the first and second portions of the edge shield limiting pivotal movement of the first end portion of the edge shield relative to the second end portion of the edge shield in one angular direction. Another stop cooperates between the first and second end portions of the edge shield, the second stop limiting angular movement of the first end portion of the edge shield with respect to the second end portion of the edge shield in a second angular direction opposite from the first angular direction. Either stop includes a projection extending from one of the first and second end portions of the shield, and a recess formed the other of the first and second end portions of the shield receiving the projection.  
           [0014]    The invention also comprises an edge shield, as described above, mountable on a paint roller handle.  
           [0015]    The unique paint roller apparatus with edge guard of the present invention provides a unique means for protecting surfaces adjacent to a surface being painted from contact with paint being applied by a roller. The edge shield is integrally carried on the roller by attachment to the handle thereby enabling the edge shield of the present invention to be mounted on many different paint roller configurations.  
           [0016]    Uniquely, the edge shield is movably between a first shielding position wherein the edge shield is disposed immediately adjacent the free end of the paint roller, and a second non-shielding position wherein the edge shield is spaced from the insertion of the roller into a paint tray.  
           [0017]    In addition, two portions of the edge shield are pivotal relative to each other thereby enabling the one side edge of the edge shield to be brought into contact with the joint between two adjacent surfaces such that the paint roller can contact the surface to be painted. This pivotal connection is bi-directional allowing the paint roller with edge shield of the present invention to be used with either the right or left hand as well as in any wall/surface configuration.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0018]    The various features, advantages and other uses of the present invention will become more apparent by referring to the following detailed description and drawing in which:  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the paint roller edge shield of the present invention, with the shield shown in the shielding position;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 2 is an exploded, partial view of the edge shield showing the pivotal arrangement of the edge shield;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 3 is a partial side elevational view of the paint roller edge shield of the present invention in the non-shielding position; and  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 4 is a partial, side elevational view of the edge shield in a paint applying position. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0023]    Referring now to of FIGS.  1 - 4 , there is depicted a paint roller  10  with an edge shield  12  mounted thereon. In general, the edge shield  12  functions to shield the free end of the roller so as to prevent paint being applied by the roller onto one surface from reaching an adjacent surface located behind the edge shield  12 . At the same time, the shield  12  is capable of movement in a direction away from the roller to a position allowing the roller to be dipped into a paint tray or other paint source for reapplying fresh paint on the roller.  
         [0024]    The paint roller  10  has a conventional structure formed of a roller cover  14  formed of a course fabric capable of retaining paint. The roller cover  14  is rotatably mountable over a roller support shaft  16 , typically by end plates  18  and  20  which fit into opposed ends of the generally cylindrical roller cover  14  and contain an aperture which receives the roller support rod  16  therethrough. The support rod  16  may be mounted in the end plates  18  and  20  by a press fit, or by means of an external fastener not shown.  
         [0025]    The roller cover  14  as well as the internal support rod  16  may have a variety of lengths as is conventional in the painting industry. For example, roller covers  14  with a 4 inch trim length, or 8 inch, 10 inch, etc., may be provided along with a proportional increase in the length of the support rod  16 .  
         [0026]    The support rod  16  terminates in an outer end adjacent a free end  22  of the roller cover  14 . The support rod  16  extends through the opposite end  24  of the roller cover  14  through a bent section denoted generally by reference number  26  to an end  28  fixedly mounted in a handle  30 . The handle  30  typically has an ergonomic shape for easy gripping by a human hand.  
         [0027]    The connector portion  26  of the support rod  16 , by way of example only, includes a first bent portion  26 A extending from the end of the support rod  16 , an intermediate bent section  26 B and a third bent section  26 C which extends to the end portion  28  mounted in the handle  30 .  
         [0028]    In the configuration of the support rod  16  and the intermediate connector portion  26  shown in FIG. 1, by way of example only, the roller cover  14  is at least partially positioned in the same plane and extends over the handle  30 . The free end  28  of the roller cover  14  extends to one side of the handle  30 , beyond the side of the handle  30 .  
         [0029]    The edge or trim shield  12  of the present invention includes a handle mount  40 . The handle mount  40  is in the form of a base plate  42  having a generally planar shape and formed of a suitable, durable material, such as metal, plastic, etc. One end  44  of the plate  42  has apertures formed therein which receive fasteners  46  for attaching the base plate  42  to the handle  30 . Suitable threaded apertures or threaded bores in a solid end portion or ferrule mounted in the handle  30  may be used to securely receive the fasteners  46 .  
         [0030]    In this orientation, the base plate  42  also extends to one side of the handle  30 , preferably to the same side as the free end  22  of the roller cover  14  and is generally parallel to the roller cover  14 .  
         [0031]    The base plate  42  supports the edge shield  12 . The edge shield  12  also has a planar construction and is formed of a suitable material, such as metal or plastic, with plastic being preferred.  
         [0032]    Although the edge shield  12  may take a variety of shapes, the shape shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and  4  and described hereafter will be understood to be preferred, although presented by way of example only. Thus, the edge shield  12  has a first end  50 , an opposed second end  52 , a stem  54  extending from the first end  50  and an enlarged shield portion  56  formed of tapered side edges  58  and  60  which extend between shoulders  62  and  64  extending from the stem  54 . The tapered edges  58  and  60 , which may be beveled, taper from a large interior dimension adjacent the stem  54  to a narrower dimension adjacent the second end  52 .  
         [0033]    The length of the shield  12  is chosen to enable a portion of the shield adjacent the second end  52  to extend beyond all exterior portions of the free end  22  of the roller cover  14 .  
         [0034]    The edge shield  12  is preferably moveably attached to the base plate  42 . In a preferred aspect of the invention, the shield  12  is pivotally connected to the base plate  42  by means of a hinge  70 , typically in the form of a leaf hinge having coaxially alignable mating portions on the first end  52  of the stem  54  of the shield  12  and the base plate  42  which receive a hinge pin  72  as shown in FIG. 1. Other constructions which provide a hinging action, with a large amount of angular travel of the edge shield  12  may also be provided.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 1 depicts the shielding position of the edge shield  12 . In this position, one major surface of the shield  12  is in close proximity to or in contact with the free end  22  of the roller  14 . The adjacent side edges  58  and  60  and the first end  52  of the shield  12  project outwardly from the periphery of the roller  14  to protect an adjacent surface from paint while another surface is contacted by roller cover  14 .  
         [0036]    At the same time, the edge shield  12  may be pivoted about the hinge  70  to a second, folded position shown in FIG. 4. This position represents the refilling position. Preferably, the shield  12  is capable of movement of at least 90°, with movement up to 180° being preferred. In this position, the edge shield  12  is spaced from the free end  22  of the roller  14  by a considerable distance thereby allowing the roller  14  to be easily dipped into a paint tray for refilling with fresh paint. After the fresh paint has been applied to the roller  12 , the edge shield  12  is merely pivoted about the hinge  70  back to the first, shielding position shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 3 depicts a use position of the edge shield  12  in conjunction with the application of paint by the roller  14  to first surface  18 . According to this aspect of the invention, the edge shield  12  is provided with a pivotal movement about a second axis generally perpendicular to the axis of the hinge  70 . The second axis is formed through the edge shield  12  generally at the intersection of the stem  54  and the enlarged shield portion  56 .  
         [0038]    The shield portion  56  is moveable relative to the stem  54  by means of a second hinge  90 , as shown in FIG. 3. The hinge  90  includes a recess or mortice  92  formed in the stem  54 . The recess  92  extends inward from first end  94  of the stem  54 . A mating tongue or tenion  96  projects from an extension  98  of the shield portion  56  of the edge shield  12 . The tongue  96  is sized to rotatably fit within the recess  92  in the stem  54 . A pivot pin, such as a rivet  100 , extends through the side walls surrounding the recess  92  in the stem  54  and a bore  102  formed in the end portion of the tongue  96 . The tongue  96  and the recess  92  are sized for a relatively high friction or interference fit to enable the stem portion  54  and the shield portion  56  of the edge shield  12  to remain in any desired angular position, while still being easily movable to different angular positions depending upon the needs of the painter, as described hereafter.  
         [0039]    A pair of stops in the form of projections or balls  104  and  106  are mounted in one of the tongue  96  and the inner walls of the stem  54  surrounding the recess  92 . By example only, the projections  104  and  106  are mounted in and extend outward from one side surface of the end portion of the tongue  96 . The projections  104  and  106  slidably engage the adjacent wall of the stem  54  in the recess  92  to control pivotal movement of the shield extension  98  relative to the stem  54  about the pivot pin  100 . Stops in the form of depressions are formed in the adjoining wall of the stem  54  and the recess  92  to engage one of the projections  104  and  106  to prevent further angular movement of the shield portion  56  relative to the stem  54  in one direction.  
         [0040]    In operation, it will be assumed that the shield portion  56  is in an upright, generally coaxial position with respect to the stem  54 , as shown in FIG. 1. The fresh paint applied to the roller, the painter faces the surface  80  to be painted and places the edge  58  of the edge shield  12  on the edge between the surface  80  and the adjacent surface such that the main shield portion  56  of the edge shield  12  lies against the adjacent surface which is not to be painted, as shown in FIG. 3. Continued force in the direction of the surface  80  to be painted causes the shield portion  56  of the edge shield  12  to pivot about the hinge  90  relative to the stem  54  to a position, as shown by example in FIG. 3 in which the roller  14  contacts the surface  80 . Movement of the roller  14  may commence along the edge between the surface  80  and the adjacent surface. At any time, the painter may remove the roller  14  from the surface  80  and manually pull or push the shield portion  56  back to the center, coaxial position relative to the stem  54 , as shown in FIG. 1. However, it will be understood that the shield portion  56  may be in any angular position relative to the stem  54  when the shield  12 , in its entirety, may be pivoted about the first hinge  70  to the second, non-shielding position. This enables fresh paint to be applied to the roller  14  or the use of the roller  14  over a large portion of the surface  80  away from any adjoining surfaces or edges which require the use of the edge shield  12 .  
         [0041]    Due to the symmetrical arrangement of the tapered edges  58  and  60  of the shield portion  56  about a center longitudinal axis of the edge shield  12 , the edge shield  12  and the roller  14  may be used in either of the painter&#39;s left or right hands as well as on any orientation of surfaces to be painted and non-painted.