Abstract:
A tool and method for painting pinstripes on vehicles or other objects includes a wheel which cooperates with a paint reservoir. As the wheel is rolled along a surface, the wheel picks up paint from the reservoir and deposits it upon the surface. The wheel has rounded edges to prevent damage to the surface being striped. The tool has a rectangular shape which prevents it from rotating in the hand of the user, and has a slim transverse profile so that a pinstripe may be placed close underneath an obstruction such as a side view mirror. The guide bar of the present invention, which cooperates with a magnetic guide strip, is flat and has a rounded distal end. As such, the guide bar provides a more positive fit in the groove of the magnetic guide strip, and also allows the tool to be turned substantially perpendicular to the surface being striped.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a Division of application Ser. No. 10/834,514, filed Apr. 29, 2004, U.S. Pat. No. 6,866,716 which claims benefit of 60/493,201 filed Aug. 7, 2003. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention pertains generally to placing decorative pinstriping upon the surface of objects such as motor vehicles, and more particularly to a method and tool for accomplishing that task. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many people choose to have decorative pinstriping painted upon their automobiles, trucks, vans, SUVs, campers, and the like. Pinstriping can also be painted on furniture and other objects. Tools are often used to assist the artist in painting the long narrow pinstriping lines. For example U.S. Pat. No. 1,988,710 shows a striper for painting pinstriping lines. The striper comprises a barrel or tube adapted to contain paint. The barrel has an end closure which is slotted to receive a rotatable wheel plate. In operation, the paint or lacquer is place in the barrel and the wheel is rotated in engagement with the surface to be striped. The paint is carried by the capillary or viscosity action along the periphery of the wheel which applies it to the surface. This device has been in continuous use since 1935, and may be obtained from Beugler Inc., 3667 Tracy St. Los Angeles, Calif. 90039. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to an improved tool for applying stripes of paint (pinstripes) to vehicles or other objects. The present invention has some feature in common with the striper of U.S. Pat. No. 1,988,710, however the present invention includes several new features which improve the pinstriping process. 
     The guide bar of the present invention does not have and offset, and therefore the tool of the present invention can place a stripe close under an obstruction such as a side view mirror. Additionally, better fit and ease of manipulation is achieved with the rectangle body shape of the present invention as opposed to the round tube of the prior art design device which can slip in a user&#39;s hand during the application of a pinstripe. 
     The clamping mechanism of the present invention also solves a key holing problem of the prior art device. The present invention employs a transverse rectangular bar which is clamped to the body of the tool. Because the bar is rectangular, key holing cannot occur. The guide bar of the present invention is then connected to the transverse bar. 
     Additionally, the wheel of the present invention has rounded edges. Therefore damage to the surface being striped is mitigated when the wheel is inadvertently rolled on an edge. 
     The guide bar of the present invention does not have a circular cross section, but rather is flat and has a rounded distal end. As such, the guide bar provides a more positive fit in the groove of the magnetic guide strip, and also allows the tool to be turned substantially perpendicular to the surface being striped. 
     In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a tool for striping a surface with paint includes a body having a longitudinal axis, a first end, an opposite second end, and an internal cavity. A plunger is movable within the internal cavity along the longitudinal axis, the plunger being connected to a plunger rod which is slidably received by the second end. The plunger, the first end, and the internal cavity therebetween form a reservoir for receiving paint. A wheel having a toothed rim is disposed at the first end. As the wheel is rotated along a surface, the rim rotatably enters the reservoir and picks up paint therefrom, and then deposits the paint upon the surface in the form of a pinstripe. 
     A transverse bar having a first end, an opposite second end, a rectangular cross section, and a bar longitudinal axis, is connected to the body so that the bar longitudinal axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tool. The transverse bar is selectively slidable with respect to the body along the bar longitudinal axis. A guide bar is connected to the first end of the transverse bar, wherein when the transverse bar is moved along the bar longitudinal axis, a distance between the guide bar and the body changes. 
     In accordance with an aspect of the invention the transverse bar can be moved by applying finger pressure to either its first end or the second end. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the transverse bar has a square cross section. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the transverse bar has a scale disposed along its bar longitudinal axis. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the body has a square hole for receiving the transverse bar. Circular holes are disposed at the four corners of the square hole. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the transverse bar may be installed from either end of the square hole. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the rim of the wheel has a midpoint. The guide bar has an outermost boundary which is disposed furthest from the body. The midpoint and the outermost boundary define a distance perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The transverse bar may be positioned so that this distance is about 10 millimeters 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the edges of the rim are rounded. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the body of the tool has a rectangular cross section. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the guide bar is flat having a rectangular cross section and a rounded distal end. 
     Other aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top plan view of a prior art striper; 
         FIG. 2  is a breakaway side elevation view of the striper; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view along the line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged fragmented view of area  4  of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a top plan view of a tool for striping a surface with paint in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a breakaway side elevation view of the tool; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view along the line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded side elevation view of the tool; 
         FIG. 9  is an enlarged fragmented view of area  9  of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 10  is an enlarged view of area  10  of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 11  is an enlarged view of area  11  of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 12  is an enlarged view of area  10  of  FIG. 5  and includes a fragmented view of a guide bar; 
         FIG. 13  is the view of  FIG. 12  with a transverse bar moved to a different position; 
         FIG. 14  is the view of  FIG. 12  with the transverse bar moved to the opposite side of the tool; 
         FIG. 15  is a view of  FIG. 12  showing a scale disposed on the transverse bar; 
         FIG. 16  is an enlarged front elevation view of a prior art wheel; 
         FIG. 17  is an enlarged front elevation view of the wheel of the present invention; 
         FIG. 18  is a top plan view of the tool marking a stripe on a surface; 
         FIG. 19  is a side elevation view of the tool marking the stripe, and also showing how the tool held in the hand of a user; 
         FIG. 20  is a side elevation view of a guide bar and magnetic guide strip; 
         FIG. 21  is a front elevation view of the guide bar and magnetic guide strip; 
         FIG. 22  is a reduced side elevation view of the tool rotated to be substantially perpendicular to the surface being striped; 
         FIG. 23  is a reduced perspective view of an automobile being striped with the present invention; 
         FIG. 24  is an enlarged view of area  24  of  FIG. 23 ; and, 
         FIG. 25  is a perspective view of the tool. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring initially to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there are illustrated top plan and side elevation views respectively of a prior art striper for pinstriping vehicles or other objects, generally designated as  500 . The shown striper  500  is a contemporary version of the striper disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,988,710 and is used extensively in the pinstriping business. Striper  500  includes a cylindrical body or barrel  502 . A plunger  504  is movable within body  502  by a plunger rod  505  (also refer to  FIG. 3 ). A head  506  containing a wheel  508  is located at one end of body  502 . Paint is loaded into a reservoir  510  in body  502  between plunger  504  and wheel  508 . As paint is expended, plunger rod  505  is moved toward head  506  to move the paint toward wheel  508 . It may be appreciated that as plunger  504  is moved along body  502 , the size of reservoir  510  changes. As wheel  508  is rolled across the surface of an object, paint is picked up by wheel  508  from reservoir  510  by capillary action and then deposed upon the surface being striped. The rim  512  of wheel  508  has teeth  509  to pick up the paint (refer also to  FIG. 4 ). It is also noted that wheel  512  is made of metal and can scratch the surface being striped if wheel  512  is inadvertently turned on edge during the striping process. 
     Striper  500  also includes a circular cross section guide bar  514  which is used to guide the striping process. The distal end  513  of guide bar  514  is inserted into a slot in a magnetic guide strip  516  which is placed on the surface  600  being striped (refer to  FIGS. 18 and 19 ). Striper  500  is moved along magnetic guide strip  516  to effect the striping process. It is noted that guide bar  514  outwardly projects a distance D from body  502 . The proximal end  518  of guide bar  514  is held in place by a clamping mechanism  520 . In the shown view, distance D is the minimum distance that can be achieved in view of the need to employ the magnetic guide strip  516 , and is about 20 millimeters. Because the cross section of guide bar  514  is circular, over time clamping mechanism  520  can be damaged by a process known as “key holing”. Eventually the key holing prevents guide bar  514  from being properly clamped, and therefore necessitates a total replacement of tool  500 . 
       FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view along the line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1  showing body  502 , and plunger rod  505 . 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged fragmented view of area  4  of  FIG. 2  showing the teeth  509  of rim  512  of wheel  508 . 
     Now referring to  FIGS. 5 ,  6 , and  25  there are illustrated top plan, side elevation, and perspective views respectively of a tool for striping a surface with paint in accordance with the present invention, generally designated as  20 . Tool  20  includes a body  22  having a longitudinal axis  24 , a first end  26  comprising a removable head, an opposite second end  28 , and an internal cavity  29  (refer to  FIG. 7 ). Body  22  has a rectangular cross section (refer also to  FIG. 7 ). The rectangular cross section prevents tool  22  from rotating or rolling in the hand of a user. Also the flat sides of tool  20  facilitate the orientation of tool  20  with respect to the surface being striped. That is, the flat sides of tool  20  serve as a visual guide in keeping tool  20  perpendicular to the surface. Both of these factors are important in keeping the rim of the paint-dispensing wheel of tool  20  flat against the surface. 
     Tool  20  further includes a plunger  30  which is movable within internal cavity  29  along longitudinal axis  24 . Plunger  30  is connected to a plunger rod  32  which is slidably received by second end  28 . Plunger  30  and first end  26  form ends of a reservoir  34  for receiving paint, lacquer, or the like. In other words, the portion of internal cavity  29  between plunger  30  and first end  26  comprises reservoir  34 , the size of which will change as a function of the position of plunger  30 . In an embodiment of the invention, urethane paint is utilized to stripe the surface of a motor vehicle. A wheel  36  having a toothed rim  38  (also refer to  FIG. 9 ) is disposed at first end  36 , rim  38  rotatably entering reservoir  34  and receiving paint therefrom, so that as rim  38  is rolled along a surface  600  a stripe of paint is disposed thereon (also refer to  FIGS. 18 and 19 ). A transverse bar  40  having a first end  42 , an opposite second end  44 , a rectangular cross section (which is square in the shown embodiment), and a bar longitudinal axis  46 , is connected to body  22  so that bar longitudinal axis  46  is perpendicular to longitudinal axis  24 . Transverse bar  40  is selectively slidably with respect to body  22  along bar longitudinal axis  46 . A guide bar  48  is rotationally connected to first end  42  of transverse bar  40 , wherein when transverse bar  40  is moved along bar longitudinal axis  46 , a distance between guide bar  48  and body  22  changes. It is further noted that guide bar  48  has a rectangular cross section and a rounded distal end  49 . In an embodiment of the invention guide bar  48  is flat and has a thickness of about 1/16 of an inch. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , rim  38  of wheel  36  has a midpoint. Guide bar  48  has an outside boundary  51  which is disposed furthest from body  22 . In the shown embodiment, thumb screw  52  which holds guide bar  48  to transverse bar  40  is considered to be part of guide bar  48  and defines outside boundary  51 . Thumb screw  52  is tightened to prevent guide bar  40  from rotating about transverse bar  40 . The midpoint M and the outside boundary  51  define a distance D 1  perpendicular to longitudinal axis  24 . In the shown embodiment guide bar  48  has been positioned to a minimum distance which is about 10 millimeters. It is noted that the minimum distance D 1  (10 mm) of the present invention is less than the minimum distance D (20 mm) of the prior art striper. As such the during the striping operation, the tool  20  of the present invention can be brought closer under an obstruction than can the prior art device (refer also to  FIGS. 23 and 24 ). 
       FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view along the line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6  showing the rectangular cross section of body  22 . 
       FIG. 8  is an exploded side elevation view of the tool showing first end  26  (head) removed and plunger rod  32  fully inserted. In this view, guide bar  48  has been removed. Paint may be loaded into tool  20  by removing first end  26  (head) as is shown in  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 9  is an enlarged fragmented view of area  9  of  FIG. 5  showing wheel  36  and wheel rim  38 . It is noted that rim  38  has rounded edges  39 . This feature of the present invention mitigates against scratching the surface being striped should wheel  36  be inadvertently turned on edge during the striping process (refer also to  FIGS. 16 and 17 ). In another possible embodiment of the present invention, wheel  36  is fabricated from a non-metal such as fiberglass having a solvent proof resin base or a polymer. As such wheel  36  will not scratch the surface being striped even if wheel  36  is inadvertently turned on edge during the striping process. 
       FIG. 10  is an enlarged view of area  10  of  FIG. 5  showing transverse bar  40  which is movable in either direction along transverse bar axis  46 . Clamping mechanism  50  (a screw in the shown embodiment) is adjusted so that transverse bar  40  will remain in a desired position during the striping operation, but also so that transverse bar  40  is movable by finger pressure exerted upon either first end  42  or second end  44 . 
       FIG. 11  is an enlarged view of area  11  of  FIG. 8  with guide bar  48  removed. Body  22  has a rectangular hole  54  (square in the shown embodiment) for receiving transverse bar  40 . A threaded hole  55  in the end of transverse bar  40  receives thumb screw  52  (refer to  FIGS. 12 and 13 ) which is used to fixedly hold guide bar  48  to transverse bar  40 . A unique feature of the invention is found in the way transverse bar  40  is held in place by clamping mechanism  50 . Square hole  54  has circular holes  56  disposed at its four corners. This reduces the surface area brought to bear against transverse bar  40  by clamping mechanism  50 , and therefore allows transverse bar  40  to be moved along transverse bar axis  46  by finger pressure. 
       FIG. 12  is an enlarged view of area  10  of  FIG. 5  and further including a fragmented view of a guide bar  48 . Transverse bar  40  is held in place by clamping mechanism  50  with guide bar  48  connected to first end  42  of transverse bar  40  by thumb screw  52 . 
       FIG. 13  is the view of  FIG. 12  with transverse bar  40  moved to a different position along longitudinal axis  46 . Moving transverse bar  40  also moves guide bar  48  with respect to clamping mechanism  50  of body  22 . 
       FIG. 14  is the view of  FIG. 12  with transverse bar  40  moved to the opposite side of tool  20 . Square hole  54  has a first end  60  and an opposite second end  62 . Transverse bar  40  is installable in square hole  54  from either first end  60  or second end  62 . This position of transverse bar  40  is useful for a left handed person. 
       FIG. 15  is a view of  FIG. 12  showing a scale  58  disposed on the transverse bar, the scale  58  being disposed along longitudinal axis  46 . Scale  58  is useful in transversely positioning guide bar  48  with respect to clamping mechanism  50  of body  22  by moving transverse bar  40 . Scale  58  is particularly useful in placing side-by-side stripes. For example the first stripe is placed with scale  58  in one position with respect to clamping mechanism  50 , and to place the second stripe transverse bar  40  is moved so that scale  58  is in another position with respect to clamping mechanism  50  (for example two scale divisions away). 
       FIG. 16  is an enlarged front elevation view of prior art wheel  508  which has been turned on edge. The sharp edges of rim  512  can cause an undesirable scratch in surface  600 . 
       FIG. 17  is an enlarged front elevation view of wheel  36  of the present invention. Here also wheel  36  has been turned on edge, however since the edges of wheel  36  are rounded, a scratch will not occur (refer also to  FIG. 9  and the discussion pertaining thereto). 
       FIG. 18  is a top plan view of tool  20  marking a stripe  90  on a surface  600 , and  FIG. 19  is a side elevation view of tool  20  marking the stripe, and also showing how tool  20  held in the hand of a user. Tool  20  is positioned with guide bar  48  residing in longitudinal groove  530  of magnetic guide strip  516  which as been positioned parallel to where stripe  90  is to be placed (also refer to  FIGS. 20 and 21 ). Tool  20  is pulled by the hand of the user in direction  68  to make stripe  90 . In practice magnetic guide strip  516  can be positioned along surface  600  by utilizing a thin strip of masking tape (not shown). 
       FIGS. 20 and 21  are side elevation and front elevation views respectively of guide bar  48  and magnetic guide strip  516 . Since guide bar  48  has a rectangular cross section (is flat), it engages a larger portion of groove  530  than does circular guide bar  514  of the prior art striper (refer to  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). As such, guide bar  48  of the present invention is more positively held in place by magnetic guide strip  516  and less likely to leave groove  530  during the striping process. Additionally because distal end  49  of guide bar  48  is rounded, guide bare  48  may be oriented at various angles with respect to surface  600  (refer to  FIGS. 19-20  where guide bar  48  is oriented at about 30 degrees, and to  FIG. 22  where guide bar  48  is substantially perpendicular to surface  600 ). 
       FIG. 22  is a reduced side elevation view of tool  20  rotated to be substantially perpendicular to the surface  600  being striped. This procedure is useful when an end obstruction  606  is encountered. Because of the flat design of guide bar  48  and its rounded distal end  49 , just before the obstruction  606  is encountered, thumb screw  52  is released, guide bar  48  rotated to be substantially parallel with longitudinal axis  24 , and thumb screw  52  retightened. Stripe  90  may them be placed within one-half of a wheel  36  diameter of obstruction  606 . This maneuver is not possible with the prior art device  500  because the guide bar  514  of that device has a circular cross section and as such will rotate in groove  530  of magnetic guide strip  516  when the tool is turned perpendicular to surface  600 . If guide bar  514  rotates it does not guide the tool in a straight line and therefore it is not possible to paint a straight stripe. 
       FIG. 23  is a reduced perspective view of an automobile  700  being striped with the present invention. In order to paint a straight pinstripe, the pinstripe must pass as close as possible under the side view  702  mirror. A strip  90  is being placed from the front to the back of the automobile  700 . Because of the design of the present invention (refer to  FIG. 5  and the discussion pertaining thereto) the strip  90  may be placed very close under an obstruction such as the side view mirror  702 . This feature is very important on vehicles where the pinstripe must be placed high on the body line. 
       FIG. 24  is an enlarged view of area  24  of  FIG. 23  showing how a pinstripe may be placed very close under an obstruction such as a side view mirror  702 . 
       FIG. 25  is a perspective view of tool  20 . 
     In terms of use, a method for striping a surface with paint includes:
         (a) providing a surface  600  to be striped;   (b) providing paint;   (c) providing a tool  20  including:
           a body  22  having a longitudinal axis  24 , a first end  26 , an opposite second end  28 , and an internal cavity  29 ;   a plunger  30  movable within internal cavity  29  along longitudinal axis  24 , plunger  30  connected to a plunger rod  32  which is slidably received by second end  28 , plunger  30  and first end  28  forming ends of a reservoir  34  for receiving the paint;   a wheel  36  having a rim  38  disposed at first end  26 , rim  38  rotatably entering reservoir  34 , and when reservoir  34  is loaded with paint, rim  38  receiving paint therefrom;   a transverse bar  40  having a first end  42 , an opposite second end  44 , a rectangular cross section, and a bar longitudinal axis  46 , transverse bar  40  connected to body  22  so that bar longitudinal axis  46  is perpendicular to longitudinal axis  24 , transverse bar  40  selectively slidably with respect to body  22  along bar longitudinal axis  46 ;   a guide bar  48  rotatably connected to first end  42  of transverse bar  40 ; and,   
           (d) loading reservoir  34  with paint;   (e) moving transverse bar  40  to a desired position along bar longitudinal axis  46 ; and,   (f) rolling rim  38  of wheel  36  along surface  600  wherein a stripe of paint is disposed thereon.       

     The method further including: 
     in step (e), the moving effected by exerting finger pressure upon one of first end  42  and second end  44  of transverse bar  40 . 
     The method further including: 
     in step (c), transverse bar  40  having a square cross section. 
     The method further including: 
     in step (c), transverse bar  40  having a scale  58  disposed along bar longitudinal axis  46 ; and, 
     in step (e), using scale  58  to position transverse bar  40  to the desired position. 
     The method further including:
         in step (c), transverse bar  40  having a scale  58  disposed along bar longitudinal axis  46 ; and,   (g) using scale  58  to position transverse bar  40  to a second desired position; and,   (h) again rolling rim  38  of wheel  36  along surface  600  wherein a second stripe of paint is disposed thereon, the second stripe being parallel to the stripe of paint.       

     The method further including: 
     in step (c), guide bar  40  having a rectangular cross section and a rounded distal end  49 ; 
     (g) providing a magnetic guide strip  516  having a longitudinal groove  530 ; 
     (h) prior to step (f) placing magnetic guide strip  516  on surface  600 ; and, 
     (i) prior to step (f), inserting distal end  49  into longitudinal groove  530 . 
     The method further including: 
     during step (f), orienting tool  20  so that longitudinal axis  24  is substantially perpendicular to surface  600  and observing that the stripe of paint is straight. (refer to  FIG. 22 ). 
     The method further including: 
     in step (c), body  22  having a rectangular cross section; and, 
     in step (f) the rectangular cross section (1) preventing tool  20  from rotating in a user&#39;s hand, and (2) facilitating the orientation of tool  20  with respect to surface  600 . 
     The method further including: 
     in step (c), rim  38  of wheel  36  having a midpoint M, guide bar  48  having an outside boundary  51  disposed furthest from said body, midpoint M and outside boundary  51  defining a distance D 1  perpendicular to longitudinal axis  24 , and transverse bar  40  positionable in step (e) so that distance D 1  is about 10 millimeters; 
     in step (a), an obstruction disposed upon surface  600 ; and, 
     in step (f), rolling rim  38  of said wheel along surface  600  so that midpoint M of rim  38  passes within 10 millimeters of the obstruction. 
     The method further including: 
     in step (c), rim  38  having rounded edges  39 ; and, 
     during step (f), inadvertently turning rim  38  on edge and observing that rim  38  does not scratch surface  600 . 
     The preferred embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations, and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve an equivalent result, all of which are intended to be embraced within the scope of the appended claims.