Patent Publication Number: US-7909529-B2

Title: Painting tool having adjustable masking guide

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a painting tool and more particularly to a painting tool having an adjustable paint mask guide integral therewith. 
     The accurate application of paint along an edge or in a straight line using a hand-held painting tool is a highly skilled task requiring experience and a far steadier hand than possessed by most people. Traditional methods for accurately painting along an edge or a straight line have involved applying a length of masking tape to define the straight line or shield the edge to remain unpainted. The tape is then removed once the paint is applied leaving a straight line or an unpainted edge. This method may be messy, costly and time consuming. 
     Another method involves using a brush or other paint applicator in one hand and a shield or other masking guide in another hand. As with the masking tape the shield or masking guide is held on a surface or against an edge while the paint is applied. The shield or masking guide is moved along the surface as more paint is to be applied. This method can be just as messy and time consuming as the tape masking method and requires two steady, dexterous hands. 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages of traditional methods of paint masking, there is a need for an improved painting tool that is less messy, less costly and less time consuming. There is a need for a painting tool with an integral masking guide that would avoid the need of applying masking tape that would need to be removed after the paint had dried in order to paint a straight line or a clean edge. Further, there is a need for a painting tool with an integral masking guide such that a worker does not need to hold two separate implements in order to paint a straight line or a clean edge. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides other related advantages. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a hand-held painting tool with an integral adjustable paint mask. The tool comprises a base, a handle fixed to the base, a paint dispenser associated with a portion of the base an adjustable paint mask associated with the base and adjacent the paint dispenser, and a paint mask position controller associated with the handle. Bristles are oriented along the side of the tool between the paint dispenser and the adjustable paint mask. 
     The paint mask position controller comprises a lever or a ratcheting trigger, or preferably a cantilevered lever. The base is generally triangular and one vertex thereof has elongated bristles having a beveled edge. The handle may include a bladder which is connected to a passageway through the base to the paint dispenser. An upper portion of the handle is removable at a point of separation and replaceable with a paint tube for storing paint. The paint tube connects to the passageway through the base to deliver paint from the paint tube to the paint dispenser. 
     The adjustable paint mask is adjacent to two adjoining edges of the painting dispenser. The paint dispenser may comprise lambs wool, a synthetic fibrous material or other material commonly used as a paint dispenser. The adjustable paint mask preferably comprises a rigid upper portion and a pliable lower portion. 
     Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more 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 
       The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the painting tool of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the painting tool of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a rear view of a preferred embodiment of the painting tool of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the painting tool of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the painting tool of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of a preferred embodiment of the painting tool of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6  showing the adjustable masking guide in the fully lowered position; 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 6  showing the adjustable masking guide in the fully retracted position; 
         FIG. 9  is a top view of a preferred embodiment of the painting tool of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  10 - 10  of  FIG. 9  showing the paint mask guide position controller as a cantilevered lever; 
         FIG. 11  is a bottom view of a preferred embodiment of the painting tool of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  is a close-up view of a portion of  FIG. 11  indicated by circle  12 ; 
         FIG. 13  is an illustration of the use of a painting tool of the present invention painting around the trim of a doorjamb; 
         FIG. 14  is an illustration of the painting tool of the present invention painting in a corner edge; 
         FIG. 15  is an illustration of the painting tool of the present invention painting around the edge of a doorjamb; 
         FIG. 16  is an illustration of the painting tool of the present invention including a paint tube for the handle. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration, the present invention is concerned with a hand-held painting tool, generally referred to in  FIGS. 1-16  by reference number  10 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  the painting tool  10  generally comprises a base  12 , a handle  14 , a paint dispenser  16 , and a paint mask guide  18 . In an alternate embodiment, the paint mask guide  18  may be adjustable and the tool  10  may include a paint mask position controller  20  associated with the handle  14 . These elements comprise the basic features of the paint tool  10 . Additional features will be described below. 
     The base  12  is preferably triangular in shape so as to provide three vertices  22  with a profile appropriate for reaching into corners or other recesses in order to apply paint. The base  12  may be constructed from wood, metal, plastic or any other material appropriate for forming a painting tool. One vertex  22  of the base may include extended bristles  24  with a beveled tip or beveled edge  26  as is commonly found on paint brushes. These extended bristles  24  are useful for painting in corners and recesses as described above. 
     The handle  14  is preferably mounted on an upper surface  28  of the base  12  whereas the paint dispenser  16  is mounted on an opposite lower surface  30  thereof. The handle  14  is designed to present a comfortable grip and angle for the wrist and hand of a user of the paint tool  10 . In alternate embodiments, as illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the handle may include a bladder  32 . The bladder  32  is configured to connect to a passageway  34  through the base. The passageway  34  connects the bladder  32  to the paint dispenser  16 . This bladder  32  can be used to draw paint from a supply (not pictured) through the paint dispenser  16  and into the bladder  32 . When a full bladder  32  is squeezed, paint will be directed through the passageway  34  to the paint dispenser  16  in order to apply paint to a surface. In this way, the paint on the paint dispenser  16  can be maintained for a longer duration, requiring less trips to the supply of paint. 
     The paint dispenser  16  preferably comprises a lambs wool or synthetic fibrous material as is commonly found on paint rollers or similar painting devices. As described, the paint dispenser  16  is positioned on the lower surface  30  of the base  12  and preferably wraps around a back side  36  of the base  12  and ends near the upper surface  28  as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  5 . The paint dispenser  16  on the lower surface  30  is adjacent an opening of the passageway  34  described above. Side bristles  38  are positioned along two sides of the paint dispenser  16 . These bristles  38  assist in the application of paint to a surface. When paint is applied from the side bristles  38  it tends to be more uniformly straight than when applied from the paint dispenser  16  alone. 
     The paint mask guide  18  is positioned along at least one side of the base  12  adjacent the paint dispenser. Preferably, the paint mask guide  18  is adjacent two sides of the base  12 —the same two sides on which the side bristles  38  are located. The side bristles  38  are located between the paint dispenser  16  and the paint mask guide  18 . In this configuration, the paint mask guide  18  may be affixed to the side of the base  12  so as to be co-extensive with the paint dispenser  16  and the side bristles  18 . In the alternate embodiment, the paint mask guide  18  is adjustable as described below. 
     The paint mask guide  18  is preferably made from plastic or rubber, but metal or other materials commonly found in painting products may also be used. Plastic is preferred so as to be less likely to scratch or otherwise damage a surface to be covered by the guide. While the paint mask guide  18  may be uniformly made of these materials, in the adjustable embodiment, the paint mask guide  18  may have an upper portion  40  made from a rigid material and a lower portion  42  made from a pliable or flexible material. The rigid upper portion  40  makes the paint mask guide  18  more stable when it is raised and lowered as described below. The flexible lower portion  42  allows the paint mask guide  18  to move and bend in response to contact with certain edges. This action of the flexible lower portion  42  allows for painting lines to approach more closely to wood trim, cover plates, and other features on surfaces a user may be painting. 
     When in a fully lowered position, the paint mask guide  18  fully covers the side of the paint dispenser  16  and side bristles  38  as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  3 ,  4 , and  7 . When fully raised in the direction of the arrows in  FIGS. 2 and 5 , the paint dispenser  16  and bristles  38  are fully exposed and not covered by the paint mask guide  18 . 
     The position of the paint mask guide  18  is regulated by a paint mask guide position controller  20 . The position controller  20  comprises a lever or trigger  44  adjacent to the handle  14 . The lever/trigger  44  is connected to a pair of guide arms  46 , which move outward from the handle  14  toward the side edges of the base  12 . These guide arms  46  are attached to the rigid upper portion  40  of the paint mask guide  18 . Through the action of the lever/trigger  44 , the guide arms  46  operate to raise and lower the paint mask guide  18 . Ratcheting teeth  48 , located between the paint mask guide  18  and the side of the base  12 , engage to hold the paint mask guide  18  in a locked position. The ratcheting teeth  48  are aligned perfectly parallel to the plane of the tool  10  so that the teeth  48  are able to raise and lower with respect to one another when the lever/trigger  44  is actuated. The locked position of the ratcheting teeth  48  corresponds to whatever position the paint mask guide  18  is in when a user releases the lever/trigger  44 . 
     The lever/trigger  44  may operate in any number of ways designed to achieve the desired raising and lowering of the paint mask guide  18 . In one preferred embodiment, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-8 , the trigger  44  is positioned beneath the handle  14 . A user grasping the tool  10  would grasp the handle  14  and wrap his or her finger around the trigger  44 . The user may place a finger, preferably the little finger, into a ring  50  positioned near the end of the trigger  44 . To raise the paint mask guide  18 , a user squeezes his or her fingers to draw the trigger  44  closer to the handle  14 , thereby raising the guide arms  46  and the paint mask guide  18 . The ratcheting teeth  48  lock engage and the paint mask guide  18  in a set position when the user stops squeezing the trigger  44 . To lower the paint mask guide  18 , a user pushes the trigger  44  away from the handle  14  by using the ring  50 , thereby lowering the guide arms  46  and the paint mask guide  18 . 
     In another preferred embodiment, as illustrated in  FIGS. 9 ,  10  and  16 , the cantilevered lever  44  extends from the guide arms  46  toward the front of the tool  10  around the handle  14 . The lever  44  pivots about a fulcrum  52  located on the sides of the handle  14 . A ring  54  for the user&#39;s index finger is positioned on the lever  44  near the front of the tool  10 . In this embodiment when a user pushes the ring  54  down, the lever  44  turns about the fulcrum  52  and the guide arms  46  are raised, thereby raising the paint mask guide  18 . When a user pulls the ring  54  up, the lever  44  turns about the fulcrum  52  in the opposite direction and the guide arms  46  are lowered, thereby lowering the paint mask guide  18 . The ratcheting teeth  48  operate as described above. 
       FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  4 ,  5 ,  7  and  8  illustrate the raising and lowering of the paint mask guide  18  as described above. Note how the paint mask guide  18  fully masks the profile of the paint dispenser  16  and side bristles  38  on the lower surface  30  of the paint tool  10 . As shown by the arrows in  FIGS. 2 ,  5  and  8 , when the guide arms  46  are moved toward the handle  14  the paint mask guide  18  is raised to a retracted position. Note how the paint dispenser  16  and side bristles  38  are visible below the paint mask guide  18  when it is raised.  FIGS. 11 and 12  illustrate the relative positions of the paint dispenser  16 , the side bristles  38  and the paint mask guide  18  when viewing the tool  10  from the underside. 
     In operation, a user would raise the paint mask guide  18  while applying paint to the paint dispenser  16 . Used in this way, the paint mask guide  18  remains free of paint while paint is applied to the paint dispenser  16 . The paint may be applied simply by placing the paint dispenser  16  into a supply of paint in order to coat the paint dispenser  16 . Alternatively, as described above, the bladder  32  may be used to draw more paint into the tool  10 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 13 and 14 , while painting along the edge of wood trim or in a corner, a user would have the paint mask guide  18  in a fully lowered position. When the paint tool  10  is used against wood trim ( FIG. 15 ) or in a corner ( FIG. 16 ) the paint mask guide  18  prevents the application of paint on the side of the wood trim  56  or the adjoining wall  58  in the corner. Using this paint tool  10  a user can paint straight, clean lines along wood trim or corners without the need to apply masking tape or use a separate paint masking tool. 
     In addition, because of the triangular design of the base, a person can paint around the entirety of the wood trim  56  on a door as illustrated in  FIG. 15 . As shown, this task can be accomplished in a single motion while moving the paint tool  10  around the perimeter of the wood trim  56  on the doorway. One will realize that this tool  10  will allow a painting job such as this or other similar tasks to be completed with relative ease and speed. 
       FIG. 16  illustrates an alternate embodiment of the paint tool  10  of the present invention including a paint tube  60  in place of the handle  14 . The handle  14  may be designed to allow the handle  14  to separate from the base  12 . At this point of separation  62 , a paint tube  60  may be attached to hold a supply of paint therein. Note that this point of separation  62  is located above the lever/trigger  44  described above. This configuration allows the adjustable feature of the paint mask guide  18  to be available on the tool  10  while using either the handle  14  or the paint tube  16 . 
     A plunger  64  or other similar construction, i.e., a ratcheting mechanism similar to a caulking gun, is designed to force the paint through the tube  60  and onto the passageway  34  through the base  12 . As described above, the passageway  34  introduces paint to the paint dispenser  16 . As illustrated in FIG.  16  the paint tube  60  allows a user to use this paint tool  10  on a ceiling while still forcing paint to the paint dispenser  16 . As with the other embodiments, the paint mask guide  18  operates to protect the adjoining wall  58  from the paint released from the paint dispenser  16 . 
     Although several embodiments have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited, except as by the appended claims.