Patent ID: 7422785

Claim:
A masking member attached to a part of an article having at least one open hole penetrating said part from a first to a second side of the part, and the first side of said article is to be coated with spray paint, wherein: said masking member is formed by vacuum and/or pressure forming a thermoplastic resin sheet or film and comprises: (a) at least one fitting part that fits into said at least one open hole and has a first side and a second side, (b) a collar at the first side of said fitting part, at least a part of said collar being at the first side of said part, outside of said at least one hole, and having a predetermined circumference greater than the hole at said first side of the part, and (c) a hollow flange at the second side of said fitting part, at least a part of the flange being at the second side of said part, outside of said at least one hole, and also having a predetermined circumference greater than the hole at said second side of the part to cover the circumference of the second side end of the hole to protect against paint mist invading the hole from the second side end of the hole; wherein said collar and said flange protect said at least one open hole from contamination by material used to apply surface treatment to said part; and at least one of said collar and said flange is sufficiently elastic and resilient to deform for insertion of the masking member into said at least one open hole such that at least a part of each of the collar and the flange is outside of the hole and extends beyond the circumference of the hole.