Patent Abstract:
A tool, kit, and method for applying an elongated protective film material to a surface. The tool includes a roll of sticky protective film wound so that the sticky surface is on the outside of the roll, a mounting portion to hold the roll while letting it rotate and a handle for ease of guiding the tool during use.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/020,592 filed on Jan. 11, 2008, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The field of the invention relates generally to protective shields for isolating selected portions of construction and remodeling projects, and more specifically to a tool, a kit and methods for applying and adhering a protective film to a surface. 
         [0003]    Protective films and covers, sometimes referred to as “shields” are widely utilized in the construction and remodeling industry to isolate, for example, finished elements and features on a job site that are proximate to, or in the midst of, unfinished elements and features on the job site. By virtue of such shields, some elements and features on the job site may be preserved and protected in good condition while work may be conducted in nearby locations. The shields prevent protected surfaces from being soiled, stained, marred, scuffed, scratched or otherwise adversely impacted by construction or remodeling activities. For certain items and surfaces, existing shield materials can be difficult to properly apply and install and improvements are desired. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    In one embodiment, an applicator tool for applying an elongated protective film material to a surface to be protected is disclosed. The protective film material comprises a sheet of solid film continuously wound upon itself in a roll for a plurality of turns. The protective film material has an exposed tacky surface on an exterior of the roll and a non-tacky surface opposite the tacky surface. The applicator tool comprises a film mounting portion adapted to engage the roll of protective film material and facilitate rotation of the roll of protective film material on the surface to be protected when the exposed tacky surface of the roll is in direct contact with the surface to be protected. A handle portion is coupled to the film mounting portion for moving the film mounting portion relative to the surface to be protected, thereby rotating the film mount and adhering the tacky surface to the surface to be protected when the handle is moved to advance the roll of protective film material in a predetermined direction. 
         [0005]    Optionally, the film mounting portion may engage a central aperture in the roll of material. The film mounting portion may be adapted to support the roll from only one side of the roll. The surface to be protected may be selected from the group of a carpeted floor, a wood floor, a tile floor, a concrete floor, a laminate floor, a vinyl floor, a wall, a window, a step, a piece of furniture, and a countertop. The handle portion may be extendable and retractable to adjust an axial length of the handle. 
         [0006]    In another embodiment, a hand held surface shield applicator tool is disclosed. The applicator tool comprises a handle portion configured to be gripped with a single hand of a user; a film mounting portion rotatably coupled to the handle portion; and an elongated protective film material continuously wound upon itself in a roll for a plurality of turns. The protective film material has an exposed tacky surface on an exterior of the roll and a non-tacky surface opposite the tacky surface. The roll is mounted on the film mounting portion to facilitate rotation of the roll when the exposed tacky surface of the roll is in direct contact with a surface to be protected, and the handle is movable relative to the surface to be protected to simultaneously rotate the roll and adhere the tacky surface to the surface to be protected, thereby providing an elongated shield on the surface to be protected. The shield has at least a length corresponding to a plurality of turns of the roll. 
         [0007]    Optionally, the film mounting portion may be slidable into a central aperture in the roll of material. The film mounting portion may support the roll from only one side of the roll. The surface to be protected may be selected from the group of a carpeted floor, a wood floor, a tile floor, a concrete floor, a laminate floor, a vinyl floor, a wall, a step, a window, a piece of furniture, and a countertop. Only the tacky surface of the roll may engage the surface to be protected as the handle portion is moved. The surface to be protected comprises a substantially planar surface that is one of vertically oriented or horizontally oriented. 
         [0008]    In another embodiment a kit for shielding a substantially planar surface is disclosed. The kit comprises an applicator tool having a handle portion defining a hand grip and a film mounting portion that is rotatable relative to the hand grip. At least one elongated protective material is provided that is continuously wound upon itself in a roll for a plurality of turns. The protective film material has an exposed tacky surface on an exterior of the roll and a non-tacky surface opposite the tacky surface, wherein the roll is removably mountable to the film mounting portion to simultaneously rotate the roll in direct engagement with the substantially planar surface to be protected and adhere the tacky surface to the substantially planar surface to be protected, thereby providing an elongated shield on the surface to be protected having at least a length corresponding to a plurality of turns of the roll. 
         [0009]    Optionally, the film mounting portion may be slidable into a central aperture in the roll of material. The film mounting portion may extend from only one side of the roll. The tacky surface of the roll may engage the substantially planar surface, and the film mounting portion may not engage the substantially planar surface. The substantially planar surface may comprise one of a vertically oriented surface and a horizontally oriented surface. The substantially planar surface may comprise one of a floor, a wall, a step, a window, a countertop and a piece of furniture. 
         [0010]    A method of shielding a surface to be protected on a construction or remodeling job site is also disclosed. The method comprises providing a roll of elongated protective film material continuously wound upon itself for a plurality of turns, the surface shield material having an exposed tacky surface on an exterior of the roll and a non-tacky surface opposite the tacky surface. The method further comprises providing a hand-held applicator tool having a handle portion and a film mounting portion; mounting the roll to the film mounting portion; directly engaging the tacky surface of the roll to the surface to be protected; and guiding, using the handle portion, the tacky surface of the roll over the surface to be protected in a predetermined direction, thereby simultaneously rotating the roll and adhering the tacky surface to the surface to be protected, thereby providing an elongated shield over the surface to be protected. 
         [0011]    Optionally, guiding the tacky surface of the roll comprises guiding the tacky surface of the roll along a substantially planar surface, the planar surface extending in one of a vertically oriented plane and a horizontally oriented plane. 
         [0012]    In another embodiment, a shield for protecting a surface is disclosed. The shield comprises a carrier tube comprising a central aperture and an external surface and an elongate protective film material. The film material is continuously wound upon itself in a roll for a plurality of turns and an inner surface of the roll is coupled to the carrier tube external surface. The protective film material has an exposed tacky surface on an exterior of the roll and a non-tacky surface opposite the tacky surface. The protective film material is less than about 24 inches wide and is configured to separate from the roll and adhere to a surface to be protected. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a known adhesive film and applicator for protecting a surface. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of another type of protective film for protecting a surface. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  illustrates an applicator tool for the film shown in  FIG. 2  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of the applicator tool shown in  FIG. 3  in use to apply the shield. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of another embodiment of an applicator tool in a first operating condition. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is an elevational view of the tool shown in  FIG. 5  in a second operating position. 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is an exemplary flowchart of a method of shielding a surface with the applicator tool. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]    The following detailed description illustrates embodiments of the invention by way of example and not by way of limitation. It is contemplated that the invention has general application to protective shields for isolating selected portions of construction and remodeling projects, and more specifically to a tool, kit and methods for applying and adhering a protective film to a surface. 
         [0021]    Exemplary embodiments of applicator tools, kits and methods for applying adhesive protective films for selected surfaces on construction and remodeling job sites are described in detail below. The applicators, tools, kits and methods facilitate secure and reliable placement and application of the protective films with minimal time and by a single person. The tools, kits and methods are applicable to a variety of different sizes of films for protecting a wide variety of surfaces on a job site. 
         [0022]    A. Introduction 
         [0023]    It is often desirable to shield certain elements and features on a construction or remodeling site from potentially adverse effects while work is being conducted. As one example, it is often desirable to protect an existing floor, or a newly installed one, from construction traffic, dust, tools, paint and other construction materials that may otherwise soil, negatively impact or ruin a carpeted, wood, laminate, vinyl, or tiled surface. As another example, it is often desirable to shield and protect a newly installed countertop, or one in good condition, during construction and remodeling activities in the vicinity of the countertop. 
         [0024]    Some protective films that are suitable to shield such surfaces are available in rolls wherein protective material is wound upon itself for compact storage and transport to a job site. When needed, the rolls may be placed on designated surfaces to be protected by unrolling the material on the designated surfaces to provide a protective barrier shield on the designated surfaces. The shields are removable when work is complete or when the shielding is no longer necessary. 
         [0025]    Certain types of protective films are adhered to the surfaces to be protected on the job site so that their position can be maintained, and also to form a seal between the film and the surface being protected. While such adhesive shields are beneficial to protect such surfaces, they can be inconvenient, and sometimes difficult, to install. 
         [0026]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a known adhesive film  100  and applicator  102  for protecting a surface  104 , such as, for example only, a carpeted floor on a job site. The film  100  is generally provided as a single, solid, and continuous sheet of material that is continuously wound upon itself in a roll  106  for a plurality of turns. The roll  106  provides for convenient and compact storage prior to use of the film  100 . When unrolled, the film  100  provides a strip of a thin skin or membrane on the surface to be protected  104  to shield and protect it from adverse effects of surrounding work in the area of the film  100 . Multiple strips of film  100  may be provided side-by-side or overlapping one another to shield larger areas of the surface  104  to be protected on the site. The film  100  may be fabricated from a variety of known materials and is generally available in a variety of sizes, such as 24 inch, 36 inch and even 48 inches in width W measured between lateral side edges  114 ,  116  of the film  100 . The length of the film, measured generally perpendicular to the dimension W, may range from, for example, about 30 feet to 200 feet. The film  100  may be cut to any desired length by the user. 
         [0027]    The film  100  is provided with opposing major surfaces  108  and  110 . The major surface  108  is provided with a pressure-sensitive adhesive that renders it tacky and adherent to the surface  104  to form a protective barrier seal with the surface  104  to be protected. The opposing major surface  110  of the film  100  does not include an adhesive and is not tacky. The roll  106  is wound such that the tacky surface  108  faces inwardly and the non-tacky surface  110  faces outwardly. That is, the non-tacky surface  110  is exposed on the outer surface of the roll  106  and the tacky surface  108  is not. 
         [0028]    To assist with installing the film  100 , an applicator  102  has been provided that commonly includes a generally rectangular frame  112  that suspends the roll  106  above the surface  104  to be protected. A handle  120  extends from an upper portion of the applicator frame  112 , and the film  100  is partly unrolled from the roll  106  and drapes around a lower portion of the frame  112  such that the tacky surface  108  of the film passes under the lower portion of the frame  112  to engage it with the surface  104  to be protected. A person gripping the handle  120  may walk behind the frame  112  and push the frame  112  along the surface  104  to adhere the film  100  to the surface  104 . The lower portion of the frame  112  smoothly presses the tacky surface  108  to the surface  104 , and tension in the film  100  causes the suspended roll  106  to rotate in the direction of arrow B and release more of the tacky surface  108  for application to the surface  104 . Thus, the applicator  102  serves both to dispense the film  100  from the roll  106  and apply the film  100  to the surface  104  to be protected. 
         [0029]    The applicator  102  presents a number of difficulties to certain users. The relatively large-sized rolls  106  (24 inch, 36 inch and 48 inch rolls) require a relative large and sturdy applicator  102  that can be costly, cumbersome to use, difficult to transport to a job site, and requires substantial storage space when not in use. The applicator  102  is convenient for large open settings such as industrial, commercial, and institutional facilities, but because of its size it is not well suited for smaller areas and settings, such as residential projects, having smaller areas and corners. The applicator  102  is therefore generally impractical for do-it-yourself projects and for occasional users of protective films. 
         [0030]    The applicator  102  also is not well suited for certain applications. The size, weight, and bulk of the rolls  106  and applicator  102  renders it practically useless to apply film to vertical surface such as walls or windows, and also for some smaller horizontal floor surfaces and elevated horizontal surfaces from a floor, such as a countertop or stair step. It is not well suited for certain floor applications either, such as applying the film  100  to a floor that adjoins a wall that is to be painted, because the lateral edges  114  and  116  of the film  100  are inwardly spaced from the outer lateral edges of the applicator frame  112 , thereby leaving a small, and undesirable gap between one lateral edge  114  or  116  of the film  100  and the wall that is to be painted. 
         [0031]    Still further, because of the size and bulk of the rolls  106  and the applicator frame  112 , it can be difficult for one person to properly install and suspend a roll  106  on the applicator frame  112  and to apply the distal end  118  of the film  100  to the surface  104  to be protected. That is, an assistant is often required to install and suspend a roll  106  of film  100 , drape it over the lower portion of the applicator frame  112 , and properly adhere the distal end  118  of the film  100  to the surface  104  and for an ensuing initial distance in the direction of arrow A until one operator can effectively push the applicator  102  alone to dispense and apply the film  100  for a desired distance. The need for multiple workers to install the film  100  consumes time and labor costs that may be more beneficially spent on other tasks. 
         [0032]    For at least the above reasons, the rolls  106  and the applicator  102  are not very user friendly or practical to many potential users that desire to apply a protective film to surfaces on a job site. It would be desirable to provide an easier to use and more universally applicable applicator for a wider variety of applications of protective films on a job site. 
         [0033]      FIG. 2  illustrates another type of protective film  130  for protecting a surface  132  on a job site. Like the film  100  described in relation to  FIG. 1 , the film  130  in  FIG. 2  is generally provided as a single, solid, and continuous sheet of material, such as polyethylene, that is continuously wound upon itself in a roll  134  for a plurality of turns for convenient and compact storage prior to use of the film  130 . When unrolled, the film  130  provides a strip of a thin skin or membrane on the surface to be protected  132  to shield and protect it from adverse effects of surrounding work in the area of the film  130 . Multiple strips of film  130  may be provided side-by-side or overlapping one another to shield larger areas of the surface  132  to be protected on the site. The film  130  is also available in a variety of sizes, such as 21 inch, 24 inch, 36 inch and even 48 inches in width W measured between lateral side edges  136 ,  138  of the film  130 . The length of the film, measured generally perpendicular to the dimension W may range from, for example, about 30 feet to 200 feet. The film  130  may be cut to any desired length by the user. 
         [0034]    Like the film  100 , the film  130  is provided with opposing major surfaces  140  and  142 . The major surface  140  is provided with a pressure-sensitive adhesive that renders it tacky and adherent to the surface  132  to form a protective barrier seal with the surface  132  to be protected. The opposing major surface  142  of the film  130  does not include an adhesive and is not tacky. Unlike the roll  106  shown in  FIG. 1 , the roll  134  is wound such that the tacky surface  140  faces outwardly and the non-tacky surface  142  faces inwardly. That is, the tacky surface  140  is exposed on the outer surface of the roll  134  and the non-tacky surface  142  is not. That is, compared to the roll  106  of  FIG. 1 , the roll  134  is reversed or oppositely wound with the tacky surface  140  exposed on the outer exterior surface of the roll  134 . 
         [0035]    The reverse winding of the roll  134  is advantageous over the roll  106  in some aspects. The tacky surface  140  of the roll  134  may be directly engaged to the surface  132  to be protected, and the applicator  102  shown in  FIG. 1  and its accompanying drawbacks may be avoided. That is, the roll  134  may be simply placed in surface engagement with the surface  132  to be protected, and rotated by the user about the axis  144  of the roll  134  in the direction of arrow B to unwind or unroll the film  130  on the surface  132 . The roll  134  is much more amenable to application by a single person than the roll  106 . 
         [0036]    The roll  134  is not without drawbacks, however. The exposed tacky surface  140  on the outer surface of the roll  134  can make it somewhat difficult, or unpleasant, to rotate about the axis  144  by hand in an even manner. In floor installations, the roll  134  may be unrolled with a person&#39;s feet, but this can be difficult to do in an even manner, often resulting in undesirable voids and incomplete adherence and surface engagement of the film  130  with the surface  132  to be protected. Because of the size of the roll  134 , it may very well require more than one person to reliably and uniformly adhere the film  130  to the surface  132  to be protected, and the roll  134  is not very practical, if at all, for relatively small surfaces. It would be difficult, to say the least, to use the roll  134  on an inclined or vertically oriented surface on a job site. 
         [0037]    B. Inventive Embodiments of Protective Film Applicators, Kits and Methods 
         [0038]    Unique and advantageous embodiments of protective film applicators, tools, and methods of shielding surfaces that may be used more or less universally across a wide variety of different surfaces on a job site are disclosed hereinafter. The applicators and tools may be provided at relatively low cost to users, and the methods may be capably, easily, and quickly performed by a single person. The uniqueness, benefits and advantages of the tools, kits and methods will in part be apparent and in part will be pointed out in the discussion below. 
         [0039]      FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary applicator tool  150  that overcomes numerous disadvantages in the art, including but not limited to those discussed above. The applicator tool  150  generally includes a handle portion  152 , a film mounting portion  154 , and a roll  156  of protective film  160  that may be unrolled, using the applicator tool  150  as explained below, to cover and shield a substantially planar surface  162  on a construction or remodeling job site. 
         [0040]    The handle portion  152  in the illustrative embodiment depicted in  FIG. 3  defines a contoured hand grip  164  that may be conveniently gripped with one hand. The handle portion  152  may extend as shown in  FIG. 3  in a generally perpendicular orientation to the longitudinal axis  166  of the roll  156 , although in other embodiments, the handle portion  152  may be oriented differently relative to the roll  156 , such as obliquely to the roll axis  166  or parallel to the axis  166  if desired. A variety of shapes, dimensions, and configurations of the handle portion  152  are possible in further and/or alternative embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, and while still obtaining the benefits of the inventive concepts disclosed herein. 
         [0041]    Also, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the handle portion  152  is approximately centered along the longitudinal axis  166  of the roll  156 , although in another embodiment the handle could be positioned elsewhere as desired. 
         [0042]    The film mounting portion  154  is rotatably mounted to the handle portion  152  such that the film mounting portion  154  may rotate about the roll axis  166  in the direction of arrow C when the handle portion  152  is moved relative to the surface  162  to be protected in the direction of arrow D. The film mounting portion  154  extends from and is supported by the handle portion  152  on only one lateral end  167  of the roll  156 , leaving the opposing end  168  of the roll  156  generally free and clear of any obstruction. As such, the film  160  can be applied with the applicator tool  150  to, for example, a horizontal surface at a location where it adjoins a vertical surface such as a wall or trim piece, without leaving a gap on the surface to be protected by abutting the free lateral end  168  of the roll  156  immediately proximal to or against the vertical surface. 
         [0043]    The roll  156 , similar to the roll  134  described in relation to  FIG. 2 , includes opposing major surfaces  170  and  172 . The surface  170  is provided with a known pressure sensitive adhesive rendering the surface  170  to be tacky, and the tacky surface  170  is exposed on the outer exterior surface of the roll  156 . The tacky surface  170  is appropriately formulated to be easily removed and peeled off the surface  162  to be protected when no longer needed without leaving any residue on the surface  162 . The surface  172  is not tacky and is outward facing and exposed when the film  160  is applied and adhered to the surface  162  to be protected. The non-tacky surface  172  may be finished with non-slip coatings and the like as desired. The film  160  is provided in a solid and substantially continuously extending sheet of material, such as a polyethylene blend or equivalent material that is tear resistant and puncture resistant. The film  160  may be transparent or opaque in different embodiments. 
         [0044]    Like the roll  134  shown in  FIG. 2 , the sheet of film material is wound upon itself for a plurality of turns about the roll axis  166 . The roll  156  may be provided on a carrier tube  174  fabricated from cardboard, for example, or another suitable material known in the art. Unlike the roll  134 , the roll  156  is substantially smaller and lighter. As an example, in one embodiment the roll  156  is approximately 9 and ⅛ inches wide and has an axial length of about 50 feet, thereby significantly reducing the size and weight of the roll  156 , and the complexity and difficulties of installing the film. Of course, other widths and lengths of film may be used, whether greater or smaller than those specifically identified above, in other embodiments. For example only, the roll  156  may vary from about one inch wide to about twenty-four inches wide with lengths ranging from about one foot to over fifty feet. Of course, other widths and lengths of film may be used, whether greater or smaller than those specifically identified above, in other embodiments. 
         [0045]    The roll  156 , and more specifically a central aperture of the carrier tube  174 , may be fitted to the film mount portion  154  of the applicator tool  150  with slight interference and slip-fit engagement between the carrier tube  174  of the roll  156  and the film mounting portion  154 . Rotatable elements and mechanisms suitable for use as the film mounting portion  154  are well known and specific discussion thereof will be accordingly omitted. The roll  156  may be slip fit on the film mounting portion  154  with force applied along the roll axis  166  in the direction of arrow E, and removed with force applied along the roll axis  166  in the direction of arrow F opposite to the direction of arrow E. 
         [0046]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , the handle portion  152  may be gripped by a user and the outer tacky surface  170  exposed on the outer exterior surface of the roll  156  may be directly engaged, with surface-to-surface engagement, with the surface  162  to be protected on a job site. With slight pressure to maintain the roll  156  in contact with the surface  162  to be protected, and with slight force applied to the handle portion  152  to move the applicator  150  in a direction parallel to the surface  162  to be protected (the direction of arrow D in  FIG. 4 ), the roll  156  may be simultaneously rotated in the direction of arrow C and pressed into firm, substantially even and uniform adherence with the surface  162  to be protected. As such, the thin film  160  is rather easily unrolled into a planar orientation and reliably secured to the surface  162  to be protected. 
         [0047]    The applicator tool  150 , including the roll  156  is lightweight and may be easily gripped and used by one person to apply the film  160 . The applicator tool  150  also is versatile and may be used to apply film  160  to a vertically oriented surface  180  (shown in phantom in  FIG. 4 ). The tool  150  is also amenable to use on elevated surfaces such as countertops, table tops, other furniture pieces, and stair steps. The relatively small size of the applicator tool  150  allows for use in a variety of spaces large and small, including corner areas and intersections of vertical and horizontal surfaces. 
         [0048]    Special formulations of film material may be provided in rolls  156  of various sizes in various embodiments for use on surfaces with different properties and textures, including but not limited to carpeted surfaces of varying piles, wood surfaces, laminate surfaces, vinyl surfaces, metallic surfaces, tile surfaces (e.g., glass, ceramic and stone), countertop surfaces (e.g., granite, marble, veneer, laminate), concrete and cement surfaces, painted surfaces, windows and doors of all types, and upholstery and fabrics. Still other surfaces could be protected with specifically formulated film materials optimal for specific attributes of the surfaces. An inventory of film materials may be maintained and universally applied with the same applicator tool  150 . The inventory may be color-coded, for example, to easily distinguish one type of roll for another. Alternatively, special purpose applicator tools having optimized shapes, sizes, and colors, but otherwise comparable functional features, may likewise be developed for use on specific surfaces and specific locations. 
         [0049]    Cutting edges and the like may be provided in further alternative embodiments of the inventions to facilitate the film  160  being cut to length for a specific project. Otherwise, the film  160  may be cut with a utility knife or other tool separate from the applicator tool  150 . 
         [0050]    Applicator tools  150  and protective film rolls  156  may be provided to users as kits in another aspect of the invention. For example, an applicator tool  150  may be packaged and sold together with, say, three film rolls  156  of the same or different types. The user may select a roll  156  for a project and mount it the applicator tool  150  for use, and when the roll is consumed the user may easily replenish the tool  150  with another roll  156 , or exchange one roll with another for protecting different surfaces. 
         [0051]      FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate another embodiment of an exemplary applicator tool  200  that in some aspects is similar to the applicator tool  150  shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . Like features in  FIGS. 3 and 4  are therefore designated with like reference characters in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
         [0052]    The applicator tool  200  includes the film mounting portion  154  and roll  156  of adhesive film as described above. Unlike the tool  150  having a relatively short and truncated handle portion  152 , the applicator tool  200  includes an extendible handle portion  202  having a first section  204  defining a hand grip for a user, a second section  206  that telescopes within the first section  204 , and a third section  208  that telescopes within the second section  206  so that the handle portion  202  can be extended ( FIG. 6 ) or retracted ( FIG. 5 ) to different lengths as desired by a user. Twist-type couplers  210  and  212 , familiar to those in the art, may be utilized to secure or release the telescoping sections  206  and  208  to obtain a user-selected length of the handle portion  202  appropriate for a given job. The extendible handle portion  202  may be particularly advantageous for applying the protective films to floor surfaces, wall surfaces, and windows, for example, to reduce the effort required by the user to install the film. 
         [0053]      FIG. 7  is an exemplary flowchart of a method  220  of shielding a surface with an applicator tool, such as the tools  150  and  200  described above. The method includes providing  222  a roll of elongated protective film material, such as a roll  156  described above, that is continuously wound upon itself for a plurality of turns, and having an exposed tacky surface on an exterior of the roll and a non-tacky surface opposite the tacky surface. The method also includes providing  224  a hand-held applicator tool having a handle portion and a film mounting portion. The steps of providing  222  and  224  the roll and the applicator tool may occur at the job site or at another location, may not involve a sale of either the roll or the applicator tool, and need not occur at the same time or in any particular order or sequence to perform the steps  222  and  224 . 
         [0054]    Once provided, the user may mount  226  the roll to the film mounting portion of the applicator tool as previously described, and directly engage  228  the tacky surface of the roll to the surface to be protected. The user then may guide  230 , using the handle portion, the tacky surface of the roll over the surface to be protected in a predetermined direction, thereby simultaneously rotating the roll and adhering the tacky surface to the surface to be protected, and providing an elongated shield over the surface to be protected. After cutting  232  to a desired length to complete the shield, the user may choose another surface to be protected and return to step  228 . 
         [0055]    If desired, the user may remove  234  the roll from the tool, select  236  another roll of film, and return to step  226 . 
         [0056]    A variety of substantially planar surfaces, whether in horizontal planes, vertical planes or sloped planes that are oblique to vertical and horizontal planes, may be preserved and protected using the above-described methodology. 
         [0057]    It is understood that additional steps, and omission and modification of the steps described are contemplated. For example, the tool may be provided with the roll mounted thereon so as to render the steps  222 ,  224 , and  226  unnecessary. As another example, additional steps of extending and retracting the tool handle portion may be performed in connection with the method between any of the illustrated steps. Further additional steps that are contemplated include cleaning of the surface to be protected prior to installing the protective film to ensure optimal bonding of the film, and removing the film after construction or remodeling work is completed. If desired, more than one applicator tool may be provided so that more than one person can apply protective film. 
         [0058]    The benefits of the invention are now believed to have been amply demonstrated along with how disadvantages in the art are overcome. The applicator tools, kits, and methodology disclosed may be provided and performed at relatively low cost with much appeal to professional contractors and workers, as well as lay people seeking to undertake home improvements and renovations on their own. 
         [0059]    While the invention has been described in terms of various specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4