Abstract:
Paint shields formed from relatively stiff but pliable material are configured to cover the transparent or translucent lenses of light fixtures so that frames of the fixtures which extend perimetrically about the lenses can be painted by brush, by roller or by spray without getting paint on the lenses. Edge regions of the paint shields are configured to be inserted between the frames and the lenses, and central regions of the paint shields preferably are transparent or translucent to permit light from the fixtures to pass through the installed paint shields. Peripheral regions of the shields preferably are provided with visible guide formations or may be scored or perforated to facilitate trimming the shields to fit small and undersized fixtures. Central portions may be designed to fold away from other portions of the shields to stiffen the installed shields to minimize sagging.

Description:
REFERENCE TO PROVISIONAL APPLICATION 
   This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/458,597 entitled PAINT SHIELDS FOR LIGHT FIXTURES filed Mar. 28, 2003 by Joseph A. Bechtold, Jr., the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to paint shields formed from relatively stiff but pliable material configured to protectively cover the transparent or translucent lenses of light fixtures so that frame components of the fixtures which extend perimetrically about the lenses can be painted by brush, by roller or by spray without getting paint on the lenses. More particularly, the present invention relates to plural element paint shields having edge regions that can be temporarily inserted between edge regions of the lenses and their perimetrically extending frame components so the paint shields are supported by the same frame components that support the lenses of the fixtures while the frame components are being painted, whereafter the paint shields can be removed and preferably re-used. Elements of the paint shields optionally may be provided with at least central regions that permit light from the fixtures to pass therethrough, may have portions that can be folded to stiffen the paint shields against sagging, and may have visible guide formations extending along edge regions thereof to facilitate trimming the shield elements to fit fixtures of a variety of sizes. 
   2. Prior Art 
   Paint shields of various types have been pro-posed to mask selected surface areas of window panes, walls, doors and woodwork to prevent paint that is being applied to nearby surfaces from being splattered onto the areas that are masked by the shields. 
   While many types of paint shields have been proposed, few have been found to be of use in masking large surface areas of the light fixture lenses that typically are found in grid supported ceilings of modern office buildings. When ceilings and/or ceiling grids and exposed light fixture frame surfaces are to be painted, what often is done is to tape sheets of newspaper or other disposable sheet stock to the lenses of light fixtures—a task that is labor intensive and hard on the backs and necks of the workers who have been hired to perform it—a task that typically requires many yards of tape and a great deal of patience to install the tape with a suitable degree of precision. 
   Where large rooms of commercial buildings have dozens of fluorescent fixtures in suspended tile ceilings that need their lenses masked to permit the perimetrically extending lens support components of the fixtures to be spray painted, it may require several people working for many hours, if not days, to complete the masking of the lenses; and, when the lenses are masked, relatively little fixture generated light may be permitted to escape into the room to illuminate the room during the painting process—a drawback that often needs to be addressed by providing auxiliary lighting to ensure that paint is properly applied. When the paint has dried, an equally large amount of labor may be required to remove the masking materials and to remove tape residue. 
   A need exists for simple and inexpensive, easy to install and easy to remove, light fixture paint shields for temporarily protectively covering the lenses of light fixtures when paint is being applied nearby—shields that preferably require no tape to hold them in place, that can be removed without leaving residue on the fixtures, and that preferably can be reused a reasonable number of times. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   What the present invention provides are plural element paint shields 1) that can be installed quickly and easily to mask the lenses of light fixtures such as ceiling light fixtures in grid supported ceilings; 2) that also can be removed quickly and easily without causing damage to the paint shields and without leaving behind any tape or other residue; 3) that preferably are formed from inexpensive but durable stock that will permit their being reused a reasonable number of times; and 4) that, in their preferred form, permit fixture generated light to pass therethrough to illuminate the interiors of rooms where painting is underway so that auxiliary lighting systems need not be installed. Optionally the shields may be provided with visible guide formations along peripheral regions thereof to aid one in trimming the shields to accommodate fixtures of a variety of sizes, and may be provided with fold away or fold down portions to rigidify installed shields. 
   In one form of the invention, a plural element paint shield is provided for temporarily protectively covering a lens of a light fixture, wherein the shield includes a plurality of paint shield elements each of which is configured to protectively cover a separate portion of the front face of the lens when in an installed position. In their installed position, the paint shield elements extend in adjacent side by side relationship to substantially contiguously cover the front face of the lens, and adjacent ones of the paint shield elements have portions that are configured to overlap. Each of the paint shield elements has edge portions that are configured to extend between the frame and the perimeter portions of the front face of the lens when in the installed position; and, each is formed from relatively thin, relatively stiff material that is pliable enough to permit central portions thereof to flex away from the front face of the lens as may be needed to permit the edge portions to be inserted between the frame and the perimeter portions of the front face of the lens. 
   When working with generally rectangular ceiling mounted light fixtures of the type wherein the lens has a width dimension and a length dimension, and wherein the fixture has a frame lip that extends about and underlies peripheral edge portions of the lens, the invention preferably takes the form of plurality of paint shield elements that are configured to be positioned side by side in an array that forms a rectangular cover having length and width dimensions that substantially equal the length and width dimensions of the lens. The array of elements has peripheral edge portions configured to be inserted between the frame lip and the peripheral edge portions of the lens to support the elements in positions that closely underlie the lens when the array of paint shield elements is installed to protectively cover the lens. In most preferred practice, rectangular ceiling mounted fixtures are protectively covered by utilizing a pair of substantially identical paint shield elements, one of which covers one end region of the lens of the fixture, and the other of which covers an opposite end region of the lens of the fixture, with the paint shield elements having portions that overlap to cover a central region of the lens of the fixture. 
   When working with fixtures that have at least two opposed parallel extending sides, it is preferred that all of the paint shield elements have a common dimension that substantially equals a selected one of the length and width dimensions of the light fixture lens that the paint shield elements are to protect—so that each of the paint shield elements, when installed, bridges the full width or the full length of the protectively covered lens so that opposite portions of each of the paint shield elements is supported by being inserted between a frame lip and an edge portion of the lens. And, in most preferred practice, at least one of the installed paint shield elements has a turn-away or fold-down portion that can be bent away from the plane of the protected lens so as to strengthen and rigidify at least the one paint shield element against sagging under the influence of the force of gravity. 
   While the paint shield elements may be constructed of a wide range of known and yet unknown materials, the present-day materials that are preferred include cardboard, fiberboard, chipboard or sheets of plastic material—materials that are thin, preferably exhibit a degree of rigidity that resists sagging, and are relatively inexpensive so that, after one use or after a reasonable number of repeated uses, the shield elements may be discarded. If cardboard, fiberboard, chipboard or other porous materials are used in fabricating the paint shield elements, these materials preferably are provided with a coating or finish that helps to prevent water from latex paint being absorbed into the material, for example a wax or shellac coating. If the paint shield elements are to permit fixture generated light to pass therethrough, the paint shield elements may be formed from transparent or translucent material such as plastic sheets (that may have been vacuum formed to incorporate stiffening formations), or may be have central regions formed from parchment paper or thin films or sheets of plastic to provide transparent or translucent regions through which light can pass. 
   In a most preferred form of the invention, each of the paint shield elements has a central region formed primarily from material that permits light from a light fixture on which the paint shield is installed to pass therethrough, and a surrounding peripheral region that is formed from opaque material. By forming at least central regions of at least selected ones of the paint shield elements from materials that are transparent or translucent, the shield permit fixture generated light to pass therethrough to illuminate the room wherein the fixtures are installed. Safety and efficiency are enhanced by utilizing fixture generated light to illuminate the room being painted, and by permitting light to pass through the transparent or translucent regions. 
   To stiffen paint shield elements and minimize sagging under the influence of the force of gravity, the paint shield elements may be provided with fold away or fold down portions that can be deflected out of a main plane occupied by major portions of the installed paint shield elements. To facilitate the folding of stiffener portions of the paint shield elements, marked fold lines or lines of weakness may be provided that show where folds are to be made in the material of the paint shield elements. Likewise, to facilitate trimming the paint shield elements to proper sizes to overlie the lenses of light fixtures of a variety of sizes, marked cutting lines or lines of weakness may be provided that extend along selected portions of the perimeters of the paint shield elements. If lines of weakness are to be provided to facilitate folding or trimming, the lines of weakness may take the form of linearly extending press-formed score lines, or an linear-extending array of press-formed perforations that cut through portions of the material of the paint shields where folds or cuts are to be made. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other features, and a fuller understanding of the present invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view showing the rectangular lens of a light fixture together with fixture frame portions that extend perimetrically about the lens to underlie and support opposed sides and opposed ends of the lens, showing portions of the metal grid of a suspended tile ceiling that surround the light fixture, and showing a pair of identically configured paint shield elements that may be installed to mask the light fixture lens during painting of exposed surfaces of the fixture and ceiling, it being noted that the paint shield elements each have central regions that are transparent or translucent to permit the passage of fixture generated light therethrough; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the ceiling mounted light fixture of  FIG. 1  with one end region of one of the paint shield elements of  FIG. 1  shown inserted between the downwardly facing surface of an end region of the lens and the upwardly facing surface of a fixture frame component that normally engages and supports the end region of the lens; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the ceiling mounted light fixture and paint shield element of  FIG. 2  with opposed end regions of the paint shield element shown inserted between the downwardly facing surfaces of opposed end regions of the lens and the upwardly facing surfaces of fixture frame components that normally engage and support the opposite end regions of the lens; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the ceiling mounted light fixture and paint shield element of  FIG. 3  with the paint shield element slided transversely to cause side portions thereof to be inserted between the downwardly facing surface of one of side of the lens and the upwardly facing surface of a fixture frame component that normally engages and supports the side portion of the lens; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the ceiling mounted light fixture and the installed paint shield element of  FIG. 4 , with the other of the paint shield elements shown in  FIG. 1  having its opposite end regions inserted between the downwardly facing surfaces of opposed end regions of the lens and the upwardly facing surfaces of fixture frame components that normally engage and support the opposite end regions of the lens; 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the ceiling mounted light fixture and the paint shield elements of  FIG. 5 , with both of the paint shield elements being in their fully installed positions wherein side portions of the paint shield elements are inserted between the downwardly facing surfaces of opposite side portions of the lens and the upwardly facing surfaces of fixture frame components that normally engage and support the side portions of the lens, and wherein end regions of the paint shield elements are inserted between the downwardly facing surfaces of opposite end regions of the lens and the upwardly facing surfaces of fixture frame components that normally engage and support the end regions of the lens; 
       FIG. 7  is an enlarged cross-sectional view as seen from a plane indicated by a line  7 — 7  in  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 8  is an enlarged cross-sectional view as seen from a plane indicated by a line  8 — 8  in  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 9  is an exploded perspective view of showing the ceiling mounted light fixture of  FIG. 1  and a second embodiment of paint shield that employs three paint shield elements to mask the lens of the fixture, with two of the paint shield elements installed to mask opposite end regions of the lens, and with a third paint shield element not yet installed; 
       FIG. 10  is an enlarged foreshortened cross-sectional view as seen from a plane indicated by a line  10 — 10  in  FIG. 9  at a time after the third paint shield element has been installed to mask central regions of the lens, with the view showing in greater detail how turned-down parts of overlapping portions of the paint shield elements may abutting engage to assist in holding the paint shield elements in position as they also serve to stiffen overlapped paint shield portions that extend in an otherwise unsupported manner across the face of the lens; 
       FIG. 11  is an exploded perspective view showing the ceiling mounted light fixture of  FIG. 1  and a third embodiment of paint shield that employs two paint shield elements to mask the lens of the fixture, with one of the elements having transparent or translucent central portions, with the other of the elements having no transparent or translucent central portions, and with parts of overlapped portions of the paint shield elements being downwardly turned to stiffen the paint shield elements and engaged to assist in holding the paint shield elements in their installed positions; 
       FIG. 12  is an enlarged cross-sectional view as seen from a plane indicated by a line  12 — 12  in  FIG. 11 ; 
       FIG. 13  is a bottom plan view of a hexagonal light fixture with a fourth embodiment of plural element paint shield installed thereon to mask the lens thereof; 
       FIG. 14  is a bottom plan view of a square light fixture with a fifth embodiment of plural element paint shield installed thereon to mask the lens thereof; 
       FIG. 15  is an exploded perspective view showing a substantially square light fixture with two paint shield elements that provide a sixth form of the invention; 
       FIG. 16  is a perspective view showing the paint shield elements of  FIG. 15  installed on the fixture; 
       FIG. 17  is an exploded perspective view showing a relatively long, relatively narrow light fixture and a pair of paint shield elements that depict a seventh form of paint shield designed to protectively cover the lens of the fixture; 
       FIG. 18  is a top plan view of one of two identical paint shield elements that provide an eighty form of the invention, with the view showing rectangular boundaries of a sheet or film of transparent material that is adhered to a larger sheet of opaque material to bridge a pair of window openings defined by central portions of the opaque sheet so as to provide a pair of transparent windows through which fixture generated light can pass; and, 
       FIG. 19  is a perspective view showing a pair of the paint shield elements of  FIG. 18  installed to protectively cover the lens of a rectangular light fixture that is approximately twice the width of the fixture of  FIG. 17 . 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , a generally rectangular transparent or translucent lens  100  of a commercially available light fixture  110  is perimetrically surrounded by a frame  120  that is supported by metal grid elements  130  of a conventional suspended ceiling  140 . The ceiling grid elements  130  also extend about the periphery of a plurality of generally rectangular ceiling tile  150  so as to perimetrically support the tile  150  of the ceiling  140 . 
   The frame  120  has opposed end components  121  and opposed side components  122  that cooperate to provide a C-shaped channel that extends perimetrically about the lens  100  so as to receive peripheral portions of the lens  100  therein. Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8  wherein the identical channel-shaped or C-shaped cross sections of the opposed end components  121  of the frame  120  are depicted, it will be seen that opposite end regions  101 ,  102  of the lens  100  are received relatively loosely therein, with enough space being available to permit the end regions  101 ,  102  of the lens  100  to be raised slightly so that opposite end regions  211 ,  212  of a paint shield element  210  can be inserted therein between downwardly facing surfaces  107 ,  108  of the end regions  101 ,  102  of the lens  100 , and upwardly facing surfaces  127 ,  128  of a bottom flange or lip of the end components  121  of the frame  120 . Also seen in  FIGS. 7 and 8  are the inverted T-shaped cross sections of the metal grid elements  130  of the ceiling. 
   Referring again to  FIG. 1 , a paint shield  200  is comprised of two identically configured shield elements  210 . The shield elements  210  have opposed end regions  211 ,  212  and opposed side regions  213 ,  214 ,  215 ,  216 . The shield elements  210  also have central regions  221 ,  222 ,  223 ,  224  that are transparent or translucent to let fixture generated light to pass therethrough when the shield elements  210  are installed on the fixture  110  to mask the lens  100 , as is depicted in  FIG. 6 . 
   Each of the paint shield elements  210  preferably is defined by a single sheet of relatively stiff cardboard, fiberboard or chipboard stock, or the like—except that the central regions  221 ,  222 ,  223 ,  224  are defined by openings formed through the stiff stock and covered by thin transparent or translucent film such as Mylar or parchment paper, or other material that preferably is selected to resist impact damage, ripping and tearing while permitting light to pass therethrough. The relatively stiff stock is selected to provide a degree of rigidity and stiffness that will resist sag when installed as depicted in  FIG. 6 , but which will permit central portions thereof to be temporarily deflected downwardly during installation, as is depicted in  FIGS. 3 and 5 . 
   Referring in sequence to  FIGS. 2 through 6 , the manner in which the paint shield elements  210  of the paint shield  200  are installed to mask the lens  100  of the fixture  110  will now be described. Starting with  FIG. 2  (and referring also to  FIG. 8  wherein an enlarged cross-sectional view is provided), the paint shield  200  is installed by inserting one of the end regions  212  of one of the paint shield elements  210  into the C-shaped channel of the end component  212  of the frame  210  between a downwardly facing surface  108  (see  FIG. 8 ) of the end region  102  of the lens  100  and an upwardly facing surface  128  (see  FIG. 8 ) that is defined by a bottom flange or lip of the end component  121  of the fixture frame  120  that normally underlies, engages and supports the downwardly facing surface  102 . 
   Referring next to  FIG. 3  (and referring also to  FIG. 7  wherein an enlarged cross-sectional view is provided), the same paint shield element  210  that is shown in  FIG. 2  then has its opposite end region  211  inserted into the C-shaped channel of the end component  212  of the frame  210  between a downwardly facing surface  107  (see  FIG. 7 ) of the end region  101  of the lens  100  and an upwardly facing surface  127  (see  FIG. 7 ) that is defined by a bottom flange or lip of the end component  121  of the fixture frame  120  that normally underlies, engages and supports the downwardly facing surface  101 . 
   Referring next to  FIG. 4 , the paint shield element  210  shown in  FIG. 3  (which has its opposite ends  211 ,  212  supported by the frame end components  121 ) is slided transversely toward one side of the frame  120  to insert the side portion  213  of the paint shield element  210  into the C-shaped channel of the side component  122  of the frame  120 —by which arrangement the paint shield element  210  has its opposite end regions  211 ,  212  supported by the frame end components  121  and its side  213  supported by one of the frame side components  122  so that the paint shield element  210  serves to mask approximately one half of the lens  100  of the light fixture  110 . 
   Referring next to  FIG. 5 , the other of the paint shield elements  210  shown in  FIG. 1  then has its opposite end regions  211 ,  212  inserted into the C-shaped channels defined by the frame end components  121  (just as has been described in conjunction with the first-installed paint shield element depicted in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ), and is slided sidewardly to the position illustrated in  FIG. 6  to insert the side region  215  into the C-shaped channel defined by the other of the side components  122  of the frame  120  so that the second paint shield member  210  has its opposite end regions  211 ,  212  and its side region  216  supported by the frame  120 , while the side region  215  is positioned to overlap the side region  214  of the other of the paint shield elements  210 . 
   The extent of their overlap of the side regions  214 ,  215  is not so great as to permit either of the side regions  214 ,  215  to block any portion of any of the transparent or translucent central regions  221 ,  222 ,  223 ,  224 . Thus, fixture generated light to pass through the transparent or translucent central regions  221 ,  222 ,  223 ,  224 . 
   What is intended to be illustrated by the three element paint shield embodiment  300  that is depicted in  FIG. 9  is: 1) that paint shields that embody features of the present invention can be comprised of more than two paint shield elements; 2) that the paint shield elements of paint shields that embody features of the present invention need not be identical in size or in configuration; 3) that selected parts of overlapped regions of paint shields that embody features of the present invention may be designed to be folded away from a main plane occupied by major other portions of the paint shield, in this case by being folded or turned downwardly (or provided with some other form of stiffening formation that serves to stiffen the paint shield elements to prevent sag; and 4) that the stiffening formations of adjacent overlapped regions of adjacent paint shield elements may engage each other so as to assist in retaining the paint shield elements in their installed positions. 
   Referring to  FIG. 9  wherein the same numerals used in  FIG. 1  to depict identical light fixture and ceiling components, it will be seen that a paint shield  300  is comprised of three shield elements  301 ,  302 ,  303 ; and that each of the three paint shield elements  301 ,  302 ,  303  is comprised of a one-piece sheet of relatively thick, relatively stiff material (indicated in  FIG. 10  by the numeral  398 ) and a one-piece sheet of relatively thin and tear resistant transparent or translucent film such as Mylar or other plastic materials, or parchment paper (indicated in  FIG. 10  by the numeral  399 )—which are the same materials that preferably are utilized to form the other paint shield elements of the other paint shield embodiments disclosed herein. The thin, tear resistant, transparent or translucent film material  399  is used to cover openings formed through the thicker, relatively stiff material  398  to provide central regions  321 ,  322 ,  323  through which fixture generated light may pass. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , adjacent ones of the paint shield elements  301 ,  302 ,  303  have overlapping portions with parts thereof cut away and turned away from a main plane occupied by major other portions of the paint shield  300  to define downwardly extending portions  341 ,  342 ,  343 , respectively, that preferably are configured to engage (as is best illustrated in  FIG. 10  where adjacent downwardly turned portions  341 ,  342  are seen to engage, and where adjacent downwardly turned portions  342 ,  343  are seen to engage). 
   What is intended to be illustrated by the paint shield embodiment  400  depicted in  FIG. 11  is that paint shield elements that embody features of the present invention do not need to be identically configured; nor do they necessarily each need to be provided with one or more central regions that are transparent or translucent. The depicted paint shield elements  410 ,  412  are neither identically configured, nor do they both carry transparent or translucent central regions—only the paint shield element  412  is provided with transparent central regions  414 , while the paint shield element is formed from a single relatively stiff sheet of material that carries no transparent or translucent film. 
   As is depicted in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , overlapping portions of the paint shield elements  410 ,  412  have parts thereof cut away to permit their being turned to define depending elements  420 ,  422  that engage so as to stiffen the paint shield elements to prevent them from sagging while being installed. Although the elements  410 ,  412  are of much the same size, they can be very differently sized. For example, one of two paint shield elements (perhaps the one that carries translucent or transparent central regions) could be made significantly larger in size than the other; and, one of the elements (perhaps the smaller one that has no transparent or translucent central regions) might be made from thinner stock than the other. 
   What is intended to be illustrated by the two element paint shield embodiments  500 ,  600  that are depicted in  FIGS. 13 and 14  is that is that plural paint shield elements embodying features of the present invention may be used to mask light fixture lenses or other similar devices that take a variety of shapes. In the hex-shaped paint shield embodiment  500 , two identical paint shield elements  510 ,  512  have transparent central regions  514  and are installed in the same way that has been described above, namely by inserting their opposite end regions and then sliding the elements  510 ,  512  transversely to positions wherein the elements  510 ,  512  cooperate to mask the lens of a hexagonal fixture. In the square-shaped paint shield embodiment  600 , two identical paint shield elements  610 ,  612  have transparent central regions  614  and are installed in the same way that has been described above, namely by inserting their opposite end regions and then sliding the elements  610 ,  612  transversely to positions wherein the elements  510 ,  512  cooperate to mask the lens of a square fixture. If it is desired to provide the paint shields  500 ,  600  with stiffening formations, fold-down flaps indicated by dotted lines  542 ,  642  may be provided adjacent the transparent central regions  514 ,  614 . 
   A feature of the preferred practice of the present invention that is illustrated by all of the paint shield embodiments depicted in the drawings hereof is that, when working with a light fixture lens that has at least two opposed, substantially parallel extending sides, the paint shield elements used to mask the lens of such a fixture preferably each have one of their length and width dimensions chosen to substantially equal the distance between the two opposed, substantially parallel extending sides of the lens. Thus, in the fixtures depicted in  FIGS. 13 and 14 , for example, the paint shield elements  710  both have common length dimensions that substantially equal the distance between opposed parallel sides of a lens that is covered by the paint shield elements  710 , and the paint shield elements  810  both have common length dimensions that substantially equal the distance between opposed parallel sides of a lens that is covered by the paint shield elements  910 . By this arrangement, opposite end regions of each of the paint shield elements  710 ,  810  are supported by light fixture frame lips  501 ,  601 , respectively, that underlie the opposite end regions of the paint shield elements  710 ,  810 . 
   A further feature of the preferred practice of the present invention that is illustrated by all of the paint shield embodiments depicted in the drawings hereof is that the plural paint shield elements that are used to temporarily protectively cover each of the depicted fixture lenses has a size that is less than the size of its associated lens. By this arrangement, opposite ends or opposite sides of each of the paint shield elements can be inserted between frame lips and opposite edge portions of the lens by deflecting downwardly central portions of the paint shield elements (as shown, for example in  FIGS. 3 and 5 ), whereafter the end-supported or side-supported paint shield elements can be slided along the supporting frame lips to an installed position wherein each of the paint shield elements protectively covers a different region of the lens of the fixture, with adjacent ones of the paint shield elements being partially overlapped to ensure that the resulting paint shield provides a full cover to protect the front face of the lens of the fixture when paint is being applied nearby. 
   What is shown in  FIG. 15  are two identically configured paint shield elements  710  that cooperate to form a paint shield  700  when installed in a substantially square light fixture frame  720 , as is depicted in  FIG. 16  supported in a suspended ceiling  740 . Although the paint shield elements  710  are depicted as having transparent central regions  730  that permit fixture generated light to pass therethrough, with the transparent central regions  730  being surrounded by opaque shield portions  735 , it will be understood that selected portions or substantially all of each of the paint shield elements  710  can be formed from opaque, translucent or transparent materials as may be appropriate for a particular application to permit or prevent fixture generated light from passing therethrough. This versatility of material selection holds true for all of the paint shield elements shown in the accompanying drawings. 
   In the depicted paint shield embodiment  700 , fold lines or lines of weakness  750  (typically formed by pressing the material of the paint shield elements  710  to compact it, or by press-slitting an array of openings through portions of the material of the paint shield elements  710 ) connect shield portions  760 ,  770  that can be turned or folded away from a plane occupied by major other portions of the installed paint shield elements, as depicted in  FIG. 16  wherein one of each of the fold-down portions  760 ,  770  has been turned down. 
   In providing the paint shield elements of the present invention with turn-away or turn-down portions that can be pivoted or folded out of a main plane occupied by major other portions of an installed paint shield, the preferred approach taken by the present invention is to provide these turn-away or turn-down portions at one of two selected positions: either 1) adjacent where relatively thick, relatively heavy stock (i.e., material typically selected from among cardboard, fiberboard, chip-board, stiff-sheet plastic or the like) is provided with an opening that is covered with much lighter transparent or translucent material (i.e., material such as parchment paper or a thin film of tear resistant plastic such as Mylar, polypropylene or the like that permits fixture generated light to pass therethrough), as is exemplified by the turn-down portion  760  depicted in  FIG. 16 ; or  2 ) adjacent a transversely extending edge of the paint shield element, as is exemplified by the turn-down portion  770  depicted in  FIG. 16 . 
   Providing fold lines  750  to connect the turn-down segments  760 ,  770  to other portions of the paint shield elements  710  serves a primary purpose of making it easier for shield installers to turn down the segments  760 ,  770  to stiffen the installed elements  710  of the paint shield  700 ; and, can also serve a secondary purpose of adding a stiffening formation to the paint shield elements  710  that helps to rigidify the shield elements  710  even if the fold-down portions  760 ,  770  are not folded down after the shield  700  has been installed. Stated in another way, the fold lines  750  (where material of the paint shield elements  710  preferably has been densified as by being forcibly pressed together to define the fold lines  750 ) in an of themselves serve to stiffen and rigidify the paint shield elements  710 : thus, in the installed configuration depicted in  FIG. 16  (wherein only one of the two fold-down segments  760  is turned down, and wherein only one of the two fold-down segments  770  is turned down), the two fold-down segments  760 ,  770  that are not turned down (and thus are not seen in  FIG. 16 ) are connected by fold lines  750  (also not seen in  FIG. 16 ) that serve to strengthen and rigidify the paint shield elements  710 —and therefore add to the rigidification that is provided by the other two fold lines  750  and by the two segments  760 ,  770  that are folded down. 
   As will be noted in  FIG. 15 , visible guide formations  780  have been provided along edge regions of the paint shield elements  710  to mark where folds or cuts can be made to diminish the size of the paint shield elements  710  (as may be needed to adjust the paint shield elements  710  to fit a variety of fixture lens sizes) or to cut away or fold portions of the paint shield elements  710  so that the fold-down portions  760 ,  770  can be folded down. Lines of weakness, creases or mere visible marks may be employed to provide the guide formations  780 . 
   What is depicted in  FIG. 17  are two identically configured paint shield elements  810  that cooperate to form a paint shield  800  when installed in relatively long, relatively thin rectangular light fixture frame  820  supported in a suspended ceiling  840 . Each of the paint shield elements  810  has a transversely extending, centrally located fold line  805  press-formed thereacross, along which the paint shield elements  810  can be folded to cut in half the storage and transport footprint of the paint shield elements (i.e., it requires about half the space to store and ship the paint shield elements  810  if they are folded in half as opposed to being shipped or stored in a flat format). The fold lines  805  are located between two transparent windows  830  defined in central openings of opaque material  835  of the paint shield elements  810 . 
   The fold lines  805 , which extend transversely across the full widths of the paint shield elements  810 , also may serve to admirably stiffen the installed paint shield elements  810  against sagging under the influence of the force of gravity. Fold lines such as those indicated by the numeral  805  in  FIG. 17  also can be provided in the other paint shield elements depicted in the drawings hereof to cut in half the space occupied by paint shield elements when being stored or transported, and/or to serve as stiffening formations that extend transversely at selected locations to strengthen and rigidify the installed paint shield elements against sagging under the influence of the force of gravity. 
   Fold lines or lines of weakness  850  (typically formed by pressing the material of the paint shield elements  810  to compact it, or by press-slitting an array of openings through portions of the material of the paint shield elements  810 ) connect shield portions  860  that can be turned or folded away from a plane occupied by major other portions of the installed paint shield elements  810  when the paint shield elements  810  are installed in the fixture frame  820 . 
   As will be noted in  FIG. 17 , visible guide formations  880  may be provided along edge regions (i.e., side and/or end regions) of the paint shield elements  810  to mark where cuts can be made to diminish the size of the paint shield elements  810  as may be needed to adjust the sizes of the paint shield elements  810  to correspond to the lens sizes of a variety of sizes of light fixtures. 
   Referring to  FIG. 18 , one of a pair of identical paint shield elements  910  is depicted that can be used to form a two-element paint shield  900  for installation in a generally rectangular light frame fixture  920  supported in a suspended ceiling  940 , as is depicted in  FIG. 19 . Fold lines  905  preferably are provided that extend transversely across central portions of the paint shield elements  910  to aid with folding the paint shield elements  910  in half for shipment and storage. Also, the fold lines  905  may serve to stiffen and rigidify the installed paint shield elements against sagging. The fold lines  905  are located between two transparent windows  930  defined in central openings of opaque material  935  of the paint shield elements  810 . The transparent windows  930  are defined by a sheet or film  931  of transparent material that bridges openings  932  formed through opaque stock that surrounds the openings  932 , as has been described in conjunction with the other paint shield members disclosed herein that permit fixture generated light to pass therethrough. Perimeter portions of the transparent sheet  931  are bonded to the opaque material  935  in a manner that seals the openings  932  to prevent the passage of paint therethrough. 
   Fold lines or lines of weakness  950  (typically formed by pressing the material of the paint shield elements  910  to compact it, or by press-slitting an array of openings through portions of the material of the paint shield elements  910 ) connect shield portions  960 ,  970  that can be turned or folded away from a plane occupied by major other portions of the installed paint shield elements, as depicted in  FIG. 19  wherein selected ones of the fold-down portions  960 ,  970  have been turned down. The fold lines  950  may serve dual purposes, namely to facilitate folding of the material of the paint shield elements so that selected ones of the fold-down portions  960 ,  970  can be pivoted to extend out of a main plane occupied by major other portions of the paint shield elements  910  to stiffen and rigidify the paint shield elements  901 , and to (in and of themselves) provide stiffening formations that help to stiffen and rigidify. 
   As will be noted in  FIG. 18 , visible guide formations  980  have been provided along edge regions of the paint shield elements  910  to mark where folds or cuts can be made to diminish the size of the paint shield elements  910  (as may be needed to adjust the paint shield elements  910  to fit a variety of fixture lens sizes) or to cut away or fold portions of the paint shield elements  910  so that the fold-down portions  960 ,  970  can be folded down. If the portion  970  is to be folded down, corner regions of the paint shield element  910  (indicated by the numeral  985  in  FIG. 18 ) located at opposite ends of the fold-down portion  970  need to be removed to permit the fold-down portion  970  to be turned down between opposite sides of the frame  920 , as depicted in  FIG. 19 . 
   As will be apparent from the foregoing description taken together with the accompanying drawings, the present invention provides simple and inexpensive paint shields, and methods of masking light fixtures utilizing paint shields of the type described, that permit light fixture lenses to be quickly, easily and relatively inexpensively masked by paint shield elements that can be reused repeatedly for a reasonable number of times, or that can be disposed of after a single use in view of their relatively low cost. After paint has been applied, the shield elements can be removed or “uninstalled” by reversing the steps that were followed to install them, i.e. by sliding the shield elements away from opposite sides of the light fixtures in which they are installed, and by deflecting downwardly their central regions to permit one then the other of their ends to be withdrawn. 
   While the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it will be understood that the present disclosure of the preferred embodiment has been made only by way of example, and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of elements can be resorted to without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. It is intended that the patent shall cover, by suitable expression in the claims, such features of patentable novelty as exist in the invention.