Patent Description:
Exterior surfaces of e.g. wood, such as wooden decks, require application of protective coatings, such as e.g. oils, varnishes and paints, to protect the surface thereof.

Applying of protective coatings to such surfaces is a task that often is not particularly pleasant. Using available standard brushes for applying the coatings is generally rather time consuming and complicated. Such standard brushes often release too much oil or paint, giving unsatisfactory results, with bubbles and thick spots and fields of coating which has not been evenly distributed on the surface. Such coating, that has not been evenly distributed, often tends to peel off from the surface, leaving spots open to the influence of water, wind, attrition, etc..

<CIT> describes a pad applicator comprising two different working zones. The pad applicator is suitable for applying paint to surfaces, and reduces the problem of paint dripping from the pad applicator when painting walls.

<CIT> discloses an applicator pad according to the preamble of claim <NUM>. There is a need for an applicator that solves the problems above, giving a thin and even distribution of a coating.

It is an object of certain aspects of the present invention to provide an improvement over the above described techniques and known art; particularly to provide pads that provide a thin and even distribution of coatings to surfaces, such as panels and wooden decks.

At least some of this and other objects and advantages that will be apparent from the description have been achieved by a pad as defined in claim <NUM>.

Embodiments of the invention are recited in the dependent claims. The pad comprises a fabric of relatively higher absorbency material, the fabric having an average thickness T, the pad further comprising filaments of a relatively lower absorbency material, the filaments having a length L, wherein the length L of the filaments is equal to or longer than the thickness T.

According to an aspect the thickness T of the fabric is at least about <NUM>, preferably about <NUM>-<NUM>.

According to an aspect the length L is least about <NUM>, preferably about <NUM>-<NUM>. According to an aspect the filaments have a diameter D of about <NUM>-<NUM>.

According to an aspect the filaments have a dtex of about <NUM>-<NUM>/<NUM><NUM>, preferably about <NUM>/<NUM><NUM>.

According to the claimed invention the filaments are essentially evenly distributed in the fabric of the pad. According to an aspect the pad, when used for applying coatings, releases about <NUM> to <NUM>, preferably about <NUM> to <NUM>, more preferably about <NUM> to <NUM>, gram water based decking stain per square meter rough wooden deck that is pressure treated with wood preservatives. According to an aspect the filaments extends through the fabric in the direction of the thickness T.

According to the claimed invention the surface area of the pad comprises about <NUM>-<NUM>% filaments, while the remaining percentages comprise the fabric, where percentages are calculated based on the number of filaments in relation of the number of threads of the fabric in a specified surface area of the pad.

According to the claimed invention the filaments comprise polyester, polyamide and/or polypropylene.

According to the claimed invention the fabric of the relatively higher absorption material comprises polyester, microfiber, acrylic, polyamide and/or polypropylene.

According to an aspect the pad further comprises a base layer.

The base layer is preferably positioned behind the fabric and filaments in relation to the surface to be coated.

In one aspect the fabric and filaments are attached to the base layer.

According to an aspect the base layer has a thickness X of about <NUM>-<NUM>, preferably about <NUM>-<NUM>.

According to an aspect the base layer comprises a foam material, such as polyurethane foam.

According to an aspect, the present invention relates to an applicator comprising a pad according to the present invention.

According to an aspect the applicator comprises a handle and/or means for attaching the applicator to a handle and/or an extension pole/stick.

At least some of the above identified and other objects and advantages that may be apparent from the description have been achieved by a pad and an applicator in accordance with the above.

These and other aspects, features and advantages of which embodiments of the invention are capable of, will be apparent and elucidated from the following description of embodiments and aspects of the present invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which.

In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed exemplary aspects of the disclosure. However, many variations and modifications can be made to these aspects without substantially departing from the the scope of the appended claims. Thus, the disclosure should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive, and not as being limited to the particular aspects discussed above. Accordingly, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, for example, definition of dimensions such as width or breadth or height or length or diameter depends on how exemplary aspects are depicted, hence, if depicted differently, a shown width or diameter in one depiction is a length or thickness in another depiction.

It should further be noted that any reference signs do not limit the scope of the claims, that the example aspects may be implemented at least in part by means of both hardware and software, and that several "means", "units" or "devices" may be represented by the same item of hardware.

The different aspects, alternatives and embodiments of the invention disclosed herein can be combined with one or more of the other aspects, alternatives and embodiments described herein. Two or more aspects can be combined.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in <FIG>, including a pad <NUM> comprising a fabric <NUM> of relatively higher absorbency material, where the fabric <NUM> comprising the relatively higher absorbency material has an average thickness T.

In one embodiment, the thickness of the fabric <NUM> may vary about +/- <NUM>, thus the average thickness T is used as reference. The pad <NUM> further comprises filaments <NUM> of a relatively lower absorbency material. The filaments <NUM> preferably have a length L, which length L preferably is equal to or longer than the average thickness T of the fabric <NUM> of relatively higher absorbency material.

The filaments extend in the direction of the thickness T.

The average thickness T of the fabric <NUM> of the relatively higher absorbency material preferably is at least about <NUM>, and is preferably within the range of about <NUM>-<NUM>.

The length L of the filaments <NUM> may be at least about <NUM>, and is preferably within the range of about <NUM>-<NUM>. All the filaments <NUM> on the pad <NUM> must not be of the same length L, but may have different lengths.

In one embodiment, the pad <NUM> releases about <NUM> to <NUM>, preferably about <NUM> to <NUM>, more preferably about <NUM> to <NUM>, gram water based decking stain per square meter rough wooden deck, when the pad <NUM> is used for applying the water based decking stain on a wooden deck comprising wood that is pressure treated with wood preservatives.

The filaments <NUM> of the pad <NUM> are preferably evenly distributed in the fabric <NUM> of the pad <NUM>. Thus, they are preferably not distributed in lines, groups/spots, etc., but are spread out on the pad in the fabric <NUM> of the relatively higher absorbency material, as is shown in <FIG>.

Preferably, the filaments <NUM> extend through the fabric <NUM> in the direction of the thickness T, as is shown in <FIG>.

The pad <NUM>, in one embodiment, preferably comprises about <NUM>-<NUM> %, preferably about <NUM> - <NUM> %, more preferably about <NUM> %, filaments <NUM>, while the remaining percentages comprise the fabric <NUM>. In one embodiment, the percentages are calculated based on the number of filaments <NUM> in relation of the number of threads in the fabric <NUM> in a specific surface area of the pad <NUM>. In another embodiment, the precentages are calculated based on the surface area.

The filaments <NUM> may comprise a material that is more rigid than the fabric <NUM>. This limits the compression of the fabric <NUM> and the flexing of the pad <NUM>, giving the effect sought for. In a preferred embodiment, the filaments <NUM> may comprise polyester, polyamide and/or polypropylene.

I one preferred embodiment, the filaments <NUM> have a diameter D of about <NUM>-<NUM>.

Further, the filaments <NUM>, comprising polyester, polyamide and/or polypropylene may be cut with a dtex of about <NUM>-<NUM>/<NUM><NUM>. In one preferred embodiment, the dtex of the filaments is about <NUM>/<NUM><NUM>.

The fabric <NUM> of relatively higher absorbency material may comprise polyester, microfiber, acrylic, polyamide and/or polypropylene.

One embodiment of the invention is shown in <FIG>, where the pad <NUM> further comprises a base layer <NUM>. The base layer <NUM> is preferably positioned behind the fabric <NUM> and filaments <NUM> in relation to the surface where the coating is to be applied, and closest to the handle or means for attaching the handle. The fabric <NUM> and filaments <NUM> are preferably attached to the base layer, e.g. by gluing the fabric <NUM> and filaments <NUM> to the base layer <NUM>.

The base layer <NUM> preferably has a thickness X of about <NUM>-<NUM>, preferably about <NUM>-<NUM>.

In one embodiment, the base layer <NUM> comprises a foam material, such as polyurethane foam.

One embodiment of an applicator <NUM> comprising a pad <NUM> according to the present invention is shown in <FIG>. According to this embodiment, the pad used comprises fabric (<NUM>) and filaments (<NUM>), but no base layer (<NUM>).

Another embodiment of an applicator <NUM> comprising a pad <NUM> according to the present invention is shown in <FIG>. According to this embodiment, the pad used comprises fabric (<NUM>) and filaments (<NUM>), and further also the base layer (<NUM>).

The applicator <NUM> may comprise a handle <NUM> and/or means <NUM> for attaching the applicator <NUM> to a handle <NUM> and/or e.g. a extension pole/stick. The use of a handle <NUM> and/or extension pole/stick makes the handling and use of the applicator <NUM> more easy and convenient. An extension pole/stick may preferably be mounted if a person that intends to apply a coating on a surface, such as a wooden deck, would like to do so while being able to stand in an upright position. As seen in <FIG>, the base layer <NUM> is positioned between the handle <NUM> and/or means <NUM> for attaching the applicator <NUM>, and the fabric <NUM> and filaments <NUM>.

Further, since it is beneficial if a wooden deck is sanded before applying a coating, in one embodiment the means <NUM> for attaching the handle <NUM> and/or extension pole/stick, and/or the handle <NUM> per se, is of the same type as used on the device used for sanding, i.e. the same handle <NUM> and/or extension pole/stick can be used both when sanding and applying coatings.

A pad <NUM> according to the present invention has the benefits that the fabric <NUM> of relatively higher absorption material has a good absorption of the coating when applying the coating to a surface, such as a wooden deck. A small pressure may be necessary to be applied by the person holding the handle/stick of the applicator <NUM> to distribute coating from the pad <NUM> onto the surface, such as a wooden deck. The size of the applied pressure controls the amount of coating that is released from the pad <NUM>.

A small degree of friction between the pad <NUM> and the surface, such as a wooden deck, is desirable, since that facilitates applying the required/desired pressure giving release of the coating from the pad <NUM>.

The fact that the fabric <NUM> of relatively higher absorption material has a good absorption, further has the effect that the fabric <NUM> may absorb redundant coating that is not absorbed by the wooden deck. Such redundant coating could otherwise give an undesirable result with bubbles and thick spots and fields of coating, which later may peel off.

The average thickness T of the fabric <NUM> contributes to a good absorption as described above, and also to that the fabric <NUM> may reach down into irregularities in the surface, such as cracks etc. in the wooden deck, so that the coating is applied evenly all over the surface. Using a base layer <NUM> may also contribute to this effect. When there are large differences in height between different boards or planks, it is also beneficial that the applicator may be turned <NUM>° so that coating only is applied on one board or plank at the time when using the applicator of the invention.

The base layer <NUM> gives a more comfortable use to the person using a pad according to the invention, since it gives a softer feeling when using the pad <NUM> and/or applicator <NUM> of the invention, reducing the impact of irregularities in the panels etc..

The filaments <NUM> on the pad <NUM> helps in moving the coating in the direction of movement of the pad <NUM> along the surface, such as a wooden deck, avoiding the creation of bubbles and thick spots and fields of coating, which later may peel off. The filaments <NUM> create friction against the wooden deck and aids in applying pressure on the fabric <NUM> of relatively higher absorption material so that coating is released from the pad <NUM>. Further, the filaments <NUM> prevent the fabric <NUM> from becoming to compressed and flat, and to wear down quickly due to the friction against the wooden deck. Thus, the filaments <NUM> also contribute to the pad <NUM> lasting longer.

Claim 1:
A pad (<NUM>) for applying a coating on a surface, the pad (<NUM>) comprising a fabric (<NUM>) of relatively higher absorbency material wherein the fabric (<NUM>) of the relatively higher absorbency material comprises polyester, microfiber, acrylic, polyamide and/or polypropylene, the fabric (<NUM>) having an average thickness T, the pad (<NUM>) further comprising filaments (<NUM>) of a relatively lower absorbency material wherein the filaments (<NUM>) comprises polyester, polyamide and/or polypropylene, the filaments (<NUM>) having a length L, wherein the length L of the filaments (<NUM>) is equal to or longer than the thickness T, characterised in that the surface area of the pad (<NUM>) comprises about <NUM>-<NUM> % filaments (<NUM>), where percentages are calculated based on the number of filaments (<NUM>) in relation of the number of threads of the fabric (<NUM>) in a specified surface area, and wherein the filaments (<NUM>) are essentially evenly distributed in the fabric (<NUM>) of the pad (<NUM>).