Abstract:
An edger/trimmer of two-piece construction having a foam painting pad secured to a large outer face of an L-shaped frame from the back of which extends a handle plate. The short section of the L-shaped frame serves as the guide, which contacts the abutting surface and provides smooth, straight movement of the pad along the surface to be painted. The pad and guide are uniquely designed and configured so that nearly all facets of edging and trimming can be easily, quickly and accurately accomplished.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Applicant claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 61,007,799, filed Dec. 17, 2007. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to paint application implements, and in particular, the present invention relates to pad type implements used to apply paint to the edges around ceilings, doors, windows, and trim, and also to the trim pieces themselves. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0005]    While the majority of wall painting is done with rollers, the edging and trimming has always remained a difficult task. As an alternative to using a brush, which normally requires a high level of skill, a myriad of edging and trimming pads has been developed. However, as with a brush, difficulty still remains when attempting to paint straight lines along the edges of a wall or ceiling, around door and window trim, or to accurately paint the trim and molding pieces themselves. In order to achieve a neat, acceptable appearance, the lines must be straight and the painting must be done without contacting the adjacent walls or trim. Also, the painting must be done without flooding the corners with excess paint, which results in a sloppy finish. 
         [0006]    One major drawback to most common edger and trimmer pads is in the design of the standoff guides upon which they rely. Some of the pads employ integral rollers, which contact the abutting surface. These roller systems are generally complicated and expensive to manufacture. They are also easily fouled with paint and are difficult to clean. 
         [0007]    Other pads employ planar or angular movable guide plates, which are intended to abut the adjacent surface and are pulled away when the pad in dipped into the paint. These movable plates are generally expensive to manufacture, difficult to use and are too easily fouled with paint. 
         [0008]    Still other pads employ fixed, planar guide plates which also serve as the pad attachment frame. These generally provide only a very thin contacting edge with the abutting surface, which tends to be unreliable in that the pad can easily tilt, resulting in an uneven application of paint. These pads also perform poorly when used on trim and molding. In addition, these pads do not account for paint buildup along the edge of the pad which will constantly foul the contacting edge of the guide. 
         [0009]    Many other painting pads have no guide at all and would require an extremely high level of skill if used for close edging or for painting molding. These pads are generally useful only for rough work. 
         [0010]    Another major drawback to most common edger and trimmer pads is the type and orientation of the absorbent pad itself. The short, flexible bristle pads which most of the edgers employ have a built-in flaw, which is the unpredictable position of these bristles due to their natural flexing action. This often results in crooked lines in addition to likely flooding of the corners. One edger employs a foam pad and has a planar guide which is very thin and will easily be fouled with paint. This edger is not useful on molding and makes no accommodation for painting into corners, although this seems to be the main claim of this edger. 
         [0011]    Relevant prior art discussed heretofore include U.S. Pat. No. 3,708,821 to Chase; U.S. Pat. No. 5,495,635 to Williams; U.S. Pat. No. 2,985,902 to Sopocy; U.S. Pat. No. 5,209,781 to Milkie; U.S. Pat. No. 3,359,589 to Moore; U.S. Pat. No. 2,810,148 to Wood; U.S. Pat. No. 2,853,731 to Lancaster; U.S. Pat. No. 5,331,710 to Tollasepp; U.S. Pat. No. 4,155,140 to Janssen; U.S. Pat. No. 3,117,334 to Imhof; U.S. Pat. No. 4,127,911 to Cupp; U.S. Pat. No. 5,678,277 to Sorenson; U.S. Pat. No. 2,156,270 to Smith; U.S. Pat. No. 4,134,173 to Cupp; U.S. Pat. No. 5,267,369 to O&#39;Neil; U.S. Pat. No. 4,674,144 to Palmeri; U.S. Pat. No. 3,464,079 to Palmeri; U.S. Pat. No. 3,728,755 to Whalen; U.S. Pat. No. 5,933,905 to Hess; U.S. Pat. No. 5,134,745 to Burns; U.S. Pat. No. 3,172,140 to Burns; U.S. Pat. No. 4,658,461 to Magnien; U.S. Pat. No. 4,658,461 to Roe; U.S. Pat. No. 3,484,795 to Nicolay; U.S. Pat. No. 3,473,183 to Burns; U.S. Pat. No. 4,852,203 to LaBelle; U.S. Pat. No. 3,771,190 to Tischler; U.S. Pat. No. 4,300,258 to Burns; U.S. Pat. No. 3,414,929 to Warner; U.S. Pat. No. 4,819,294 to Calvert; U.S. Pat. No. 7,028,363 to Gartner; U.S. Pat. No. D439,748 to Woodnorth; U.S. Pat. No. 3,388,415 to Warner. 
         [0012]    Applicant&#39;s novel contribution to the art addresses the shortcomings of the prior art pads and introduces a unique, simple and effective design edger/trimmer which accomplishes all the necessary edging and trimming tasks with the least amount of skill required of the user. Applicant&#39;s edger/trimmer also has application to hard to reach corners between walls, especially at ceiling junctures. Applicant&#39;s edger/trimmer also has application not only to wall edging, but also performs extremely well when painting various trim and molding. It is also simple to manufacture and easy to clean. 
       OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    An object of the present invention is to provide for a novel edger/trimmer which will paint accurate, straight lines on walls, where walls abut ceilings, and on walls around doors, windows and other various types of molding. 
         [0014]    A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel edger/trimmer which will paint into corners where two adjacent walls meet, especially at ceiling junctures. 
         [0015]    A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel edger/trimmer which can also be used to accurately paint trim and molding pieces such as casings, baseboards, chair rails and window mullions. 
         [0016]    A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel edger/trimmer which will paint into corners where mullions or other types of moldings meet at 90 degree angles. 
         [0017]    A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel edger/trimmer which will accurately paint the narrow sides of door or window casings where these sides abut wall surfaces. 
         [0018]    A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel edger/trimmer which will accurately paint the thin edges found on trim such as baseboards and chair rails where these edges abut wall surfaces. 
         [0019]    A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel edger/trimmer which will absorbs excess paint from the pressure of application back into the pad, which avoids flooding of corners and fouling of the edger&#39;s guide. 
         [0020]    A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel edger/trimmer which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture, easy to use, easy to clean, reusable, requires less skill and performs more accurately than those represented by the prior art. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]    An edger/trimmer of two-piece construction having a foam painting pad secured to a large outer face of an L-shaped frame from the back of which extends a handle plate. The short section of the L-shaped frame serves as the guide, which contacts the abutting surface and provides smooth, straight movement of the pad along the surface to be painted. The pad and guide are uniquely designed and configured so that nearly all facets of edging and trimming can be easily, quickly and accurately accomplished. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]    These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent, particularly in light of the following illustrations wherein: 
           [0023]      FIG. 1  is a side view of the edger/trimmer of the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  is a rear view of the edger/trimmer of the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  is a rear view of the invention illustrating a second embodiment of a handle or gripping means; 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  is a view of the invention applying paint to a wall near a ceiling and into the corner where two adjacent walls meet at a ceiling juncture; and 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  is a view of the invention applying paint on a mullion and into a corner where two mullions meet around a window glass. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0028]      FIGS. 1 and 2  are side and back views of paint edger/trimmer  10  which comprises a one-piece, L-shaped, molded plastic frame  12  whose larger section is backing plate  14  to which pad  20  is securely attached to outer face  36 . The smaller section of the frame is guide plate  16 , which extends at a 90 degree angle from backing plate  14  and serves as a guide which contacts and slides along the adjacent surface (wall, trim or glass), which is not to be painted. 
         [0029]    Left and right ends of guide plate  16  are arcuate  40  to provide ease of movement across the unpainted adjacent surface. Handle plate  18  is integrally molded into the frame  12  of edger  10  and extends at a 90 degree angle along the centers measured from left to right of the inside edges of both plates  14  and  16 . A handle plate  18  provides the gripping surface for the edger and also serves to stabilize plates  14  and  16  so that a 90 degree position between these two plates is maintained.  FIG. 3  illustrates a second embodiment of the handle plate  18  which comprises two spaced apart handle plates which allow for more comfortable gripping of the edger. 
         [0030]    Painting pad  20  is made of polyurethane foam and is attached at its back, inside surface  33  by means of a securing means such as glue or the like to outer face  36  of backing plate  14 . Pad  20  is approximately 5/16 inch thick from inside surface  33  to outside surface  34 . 
         [0031]    Pad  20  is square or slightly rectangular in nature and extends vertically from its bottom  32  at the bottom  38  of plate  14  to the bottom of triangular ridge  22 . The two projecting sides of triangular ridge  22  are approximately 1/32 inch long. Ridge  22  extends the entire width of the outer face  36  of plate  14  and is located approximately ⅛ inch below the plane of the top of plate  16 . The top side of ridge  22  projects at a 90 degree angle from plate  14 . The bottom of ridge  22  projects at an approximately 30 degree angle downward from the top side of ridge  22  and terminates approximately 3/16 inch below the plane of the top of plate  16 . The bottom, angled side of ridge  22  provides a guide for precise positioning pad  20  when it is secured to plate  14 . 
         [0032]    The top of pad  20  has an approximately 30 degree bevel  24  extending from outer plane  26  to inner plane  28 . The juncture between plates  14  and  16  has curved area  30  which, along with bevel  24 , produces a void which allows excess paint to collect and be reabsorbed into pad  20 . This void performs the vital function of keeping paint from contacting the adjacent surface and from fouling the outer/contacting surface of plate  16 . 
         [0033]    While the entire outer surface  34  of pad  20  is used to apply paint, the uppermost corner  50  which extends between left corner  26  and right corners  52 , produces the close straight lines, i.e. edging or “cutting in” as it is called in the trade. The top of edge  50  terminates in height 1/32 inch below the plane of the top of plate  16 . This 1/32 inch clearance keeps paint from flooding the corners between adjacent walls or between trim pieces and abutting surfaces. This clearance also reduces the chance that the pad and paint will contact adjacent surfaces which are not to be painted. 
         [0034]    Due to excess pressure by the user, paint may accumulate along ridge  22  and curved area  30 . This accumulation does not affect the overall performance of the edger and any paint which is not reabsorbed back into the pad can be periodically wiped away. This achieves the important result of keeping the straight/contacting area of plate  16  from becoming fouled with paint. 
         [0035]    Pad  20  extends beyond the edges  46  of plate  14 , forming overlaps  44 , which extend approximately ⅛ inch to the left and right of the edges  46  of plate  14 . Overlaps  18 , and in particular the extreme ends of pad  20  at left and right sides  48 , left and right corners  42 , and left and right corners  26  and  52 , allow for painting fully into corners where two adjacent walls meet, especially at ceiling junctures, and for painting into corners where mullions or other trim or molding pieces meet at 90 degree or similar angles. Without this overlap feature, a separate fine brush would be needed to paint such corners. 
         [0036]      FIG. 4  is a view of the corner where two walls  54  and  56  meet at a juncture with ceiling  58 . Edger  10  is positioned along wall  54  with plate  16  abutting ceiling  58  and is shown applying paint to wall  54  as depicted by shaded area  60 . The application of paint fully into corner  62  is depicted by shaded area  64  on wall  56  which is accomplished due to overlap  44  of pad  20 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 5  is a view of mullions  66  and  68  constructed around the perimeter of window glass  70 . Edger  10  is positioned along mullion  66  with plate  16  abutting glass  70  and is shown applying paint to mullion  66  as depicted by shaded area  72 . The application of paint fully into corner  74  is depicted by shaded area  76 . 
         [0038]    Therefore, while the present invention has been disclosed with respect to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore manifestly intended that the invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalence thereof.