Patent Publication Number: US-6219877-B1

Title: Pivotal and pivotal adjustable dual roller paint frames

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to provisional application No. 60/077,796, filed Mar. 12, 1998. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This application pertains to an angularly adjustable Paint roller frame for the application of paint or other liquid coating materials to small four sided or round surfaces such as wrought iron or wood style type fences, poles or beams, patio stringers or similar type objects. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Commercially available paint roller frames are either of a standard non-adjustable single roller type device or of a spring handle dual roller end type device. The major limitation of these prior art devices is that they cannot be pivoted or adjusted in a way that permits easy application of the liquid material to two sides of a multi-sided item to be protected or decorated, such as, wrought iron or wood style fencing, poles, beams and small metal or thin wood frame pieces. The user&#39;s hand oftentimes comes in contact with the next closest item such as a post or wood style, especially if these items are spaced closely together. Additionally, the spring handle dual roller end must be squeezed by hand to close sufficiently enough around the item to be protected or decorated so as to apply the liquid material to the item. After a few brief minutes, the hand becomes tired of squeezing the spring type handle. 
     The only other alternative to using these prior art devices is to use a small paint brush or some form of paint sprayer. The major limitation of the paint brush is that it leaves brush streaks and it takes too long to apply the material to the item to be protected, especially if the item is of any significant width and length. The primary limitation to using a paint spraying device is that too much paint is wasted and the coverage of the material tends to be uneven. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides for easy angular or angular and pivotal adjustment of the frame handle and shaft portion to the paint roller covers installed on the ends of the mating “U” shaped frame portion. Application of the liquid material can be made to two sides, at the same time of the item being protected or decorated. Because of the pivotal ability of the invention, rubbing of the paint frame handle or the user&#39;s hand against the next closest post, style or frame piece is effectively eliminated. 
     Another feature of the invention is that it can be pivoted during the material application process by applying pressure to the frame handle and shaft while the dual rollers are in contact with the surface being protected or decorated. The built-in tension of the pivot mechanism maintains any desired angle selected by the user. 
     It is, therefore, a principal object of the present invention to provide the user with a pivotal or a pivotal adjustable dual roller paint frame which eliminates the disadvantages of the prior art devices. 
     Other objects of this invention are as follows: 
     To provide a dual roller paint frame device that can be pivoted easily and continually, if necessary, as the user applies the liquid coating material. 
     To provide a paint roller device capable of painting two sides of an object at the same time. 
     To provide a paint roller device that is versatile and which can be used to apply paint and other liquid coatings to wrought iron or wood styles, posts, fence frame pieces, patio stringers, beams and various size poles. 
     To provide an adjustable paint roller device which is simple in design and construction, can be readily and easily manufactured and assembled, and sold at a price that is competitive with existing art devices. 
     In the case of three of the embodiments, to provide an adjustable paint roller frame whose “U” shaped frame portion can be adjusted in width to accommodate painting or decorating items of varying widths. 
     For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of this invention, reference is made to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1A is a front view of a paint frame according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 1B depicts a side view of the paint frame shown in FIG. 1A; 
     FIG. 2A depicts a front view of a paint frame according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 2B depicts a side view of the paint frame shown in FIG. 2A; 
     FIG. 3A depicts a front view of a paint frame according to a third preferred embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 3B depicts a side view of the paint frame shown in FIG. 3A; 
     FIG. 4A depicts a front view of a paint frame according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the invention; and 
     FIG. 4B depicts a side view of the paint frame shown in FIG.  4 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1A depicts a front view of a paint frame according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. The paint frame includes a frame handle and shaft  1 , a “U” shaped frame portion  2 , a threaded stud  3 , nylon washers  4  and  5 , a steel washer  6  and a lock nut  7 . The paint frame includes a pivotal mechanism located where the flattened end of the paint frame handle and shaft portion  1 , the flattened shaft end having a hole through the center, intersects with the flattened center of the “U” shaped frame portion  2  which has a hole through the center. Roller covers are installed over the parallel ends of this latter portion for the application of protective or decorative coating to two opposite sides of an item at the same time, such as, a wrought iron post, pole, wood style or other similar type pieces. 
     Referring now to FIG. 1B, the frame handle and shaft  1  and “U” shaped frame portion  2  shown in FIG. 1A are mated together by a threaded stud  3  that is pressed into the flattened end of the frame handle and shaft portion  1 , washers  4 ,  5 , and  6  used to separate and allow movement of the pieces, then a lock nut  7  installed over the remaining threaded end of the stud securing all pieces firmly together. 
     As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the pivot mechanism includes a threaded stud  3  that is installed through a hole centered in the flattened end of the frame handle and shaft portion  1 . A nylon washer  4  is inserted over the protruding stud  3  and the “U” shaped frame portion  2 , with a hole in the flattened center section, is placed over the protruding threaded end of the stud  3  on top of the nylon washer  4 . Another nylon washer  5  and then a steel washer  6  are then placed over the protruding end of the stud  3 . Lock nut  7  is installed over the remaining protruding end of the stud  3 . Lock nut  7  not only secures the components forming the pivotal mechanism, it also applies and secures the friction tension on both frame portions  1  and  2 . The surface finish of the flattened areas of the two frame portions  1  and  2  and the use of the nylon washers  4  and  5  allows the “U” shaped frame portion  2  to be smoothly adjusted to any desired angle either by hand through applying pressure on the “U” shaped frame portion  2  or by applying pressure to the frame handle with shaft  1  against the “U” shaped frame portion  2  while the device is in use. 
     This embodiment, while being capable of pivoting in either direction, is not adjustable like the three alternative embodiments depicted in FIGS. 2A and 2B,  3 A and  3 B, and  4 A and  4 B, as the parallel ends of the “U” shaped frame portion  2  that hold the roller covers, are fixed at a given distance from each other depending on the manufactured size and length of this portion. 
     A second embodiment of a paint frame according to the invention is shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. The paint frame includes a pivotal mechanism located where the flattened end of the paint frame handle and shaft portion  1 , the flattened shaft end having a hole through the center, intersects with the flattened center of the “L” shaped frame portion slotted  8  which also has a hole through its center and is one of two pieces forming the “U” shaped frame portion. The second piece is a straight rod piece  9  with a threaded end which can be positioned anywhere within the flattened slotted area of the “L” shaped piece  8 . The straight rod piece  9  is secured in-place by wing nut  10 . Roller covers are installed over the ends of this two piece “U” shaped frame portion. 
     The second embodiment shown in FIGS. 2A and 2E differs from the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1A and 1B in that two pieces  8  and  9  make up the “U” shaped frame portion. These pieces can be adjusted closer together or farther apart thereby making the frame adjustable as well as pivotal 
     As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the paint frame of the second embodiment includes a frame handle and shaft  1 , a nylon washer  4  inserted over the protruding threaded end of stud  3  that has been installed through the flattened shaft end of the frame handle and shaft  1 , the “L” shaped frame portion slotted  8  with a hole in its center, another nylon washer  5  and a metal washer  6  all are placed over the protruding threaded end of the stud  3 . Lock nut  7  then caps the remaining protruding threaded end of the stud  3 . The lock nut  7  not only secures the components forming the pivot mechanism, but it also applies and secures the friction tension on the frame portions  1  and  8 . The straight rod piece  9  is placed through the slotted section of the “L” shaped piece  8 . Wing nut  10  is installed on the protruding threaded end of the straight rod piece  9  and tightened down securing it firmly to the “L” shaped piece  8 . 
     A third embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. The third embodiment is configured similar to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B except that the flattened end of the “L” shaped frame portion  11  has three holes in it to accept the installation of the straight rod piece  9 . Roller covers are installed over the ends of this two piece “U” shaped frame portion. This differs from the first two embodiments in that the two pieces  9  and  11  making up the “U” shaped frame portion can be adjusted to one of three fixed widths. The pivotal mechanism is the same as that for the first two embodiments. 
     In more detail, the paint frame shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B includes a frame handle and shaft  1 , a nylon washer  4  inserted over the protruding threaded end of stud  3  that has been installed through the protruding end of the stud  3  in the order noted, all of which are secured together by a lock nut  7 . The lock nut  7  not only secures the components forming the pivoting mechanism, but it also applies and secures the friction tension on both frame portions  9  and  11 . The threaded end of the straight rod piece  9  can be inserted through any one of the three holes in the flattened end of the “L” shaped piece  11  and secured by a wing nut  10 . 
     A fourth embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. It differs from the other embodiments in that this embodiment includes a frame handle and shaft  1 , a nylon washer  4  inserted over the protruding threaded stud  3  that has been installed through the flattened end of the frame handle and shaft  1 , two “L” shaped pieces  12  and  13  slotted with flattened ends at one end of each piece, one “L” shaped piece  13  having a dimple near the flattened end. Nylon washer  5  and a metal washer  6  are placed over the stud  3  on top of the “L” shaped pieces  12  and  13  in the order noted. All pieces are secured together by a lock nut  7 . The lock nut  7  not only secures these components together forming the pivoting mechanism but it also applies and secures the friction tension on all frame pieces as described previously herein. 
     In more detail, FIGS. 4A and 4B show the pivotal mechanism located where the flattened end of the paint frame handle and shaft portion  1 , the flattened shaft end having a hole through the center, intersects with the flattened center of the “U” shaped frame portion. The “U” shaped frame portion includes two “L” shaped pieces of equal size and shape, except one piece is slightly different than the other. One of these two pieces is referred to as an “L” shaped piece with flattened end slotted  12  and the other is referred to as an “L” shaped piece with flattened end slotted and dimpled  13 . The dimple is near the end of the flattened slotted area. This dimple fits inside the flattened slotted area of the piece  12  and keeps the two pieces  12  and  13  aligned with each other. The slot in the flattened ends allows the pieces to be moved anywhere within the length of the slots which establishes the distance between the two ends of the “U” shaped frame portion upon which roller covers are placed. 
     In the various embodiments, the preferred materials for use in the adjusting mechanism are a threaded stud  3 , two nylon washers  4  and  5 , a steel washer  6  and a lock nut  7 . These components that comprise the pivot are in common and standard use throughout the industry. 
     The lock nut  7  can be tightening or loosening with standard type wrenches or pliers to vary the degree of tension applied to the flattened friction surfaces of the frame shaft handle  1  and any of the four different embodiments of the “U” shaped frame portion. Once the tension is set by tightening the lock nut  7 , it will remain at that tension and tightness even after repeated pivoting of the joint. 
     The frame handle and shaft  1  can be pivoted to a ninety degree angle in either direction with respect to the “U” shaped frame portion (any of the four embodiments discussed above). 
     The invention shown and described herein reflects the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized that departures may be made from within the scope of the invention, which is, therefore, not to be limited to the details disclosed herein, but is to be afforded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent apparatus and articles.