Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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This invention relates to an applicator tool,
particularly one used to apply a bead of flexible material
into a groove when repairing or manufacturing a window
screen.
B~C~CROU~D OF T~E INVENTION
A window screen typically involves a sheet of
mesh material, often moulded from a flexible plastics
material, a frame and means for affixing the mesh material
to the frame. The affixing means usually involves a bead
of flexible retaining material which is forced into a
groove in the face of the frame along with the screen
material. The flexible material exerts an outward pressure
on the screen material to hold it securely in the groove.
When it becomes necessary to repair the screen,
the bead is pulled from the groove and the screen material
is lifted from the frame. New screen material is laid over
the frame, pushed into the groove with a tool and then a
new bead is forced into the groove by using another tool so
as to stretch the screen material and to affix it to the
frame.
In the past the tool used to affix the bead to
the groove, or to initially push the screen material into
the groove, has included a straight handle and a thin
circular roller wheel. As the tool is moved along the
groove the wheel rotates and with sufficient downward
pressure it will Eorce the screen material or the bead and
screen material into the groove. A tool for just pushing
screen material into the groove can have a transversely
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rounded edge and the tool for pushing the bead into the
groove can have a transversely V-shaped edge.
Such a tool has two major drawbacks. It is
expensive to manufacture, comprising several components,
and it cannot reach into the corners where grooves of
abutting frame members meet. This latter problem has
necessitated the use of other tools, such as screwdrivers
to ensure proper assembly at the corners~
SUMMA~Y 0~ T~E INVENTION
The present invention overcomes the problems of
the prior art by providing an applicator tool that is
simple and inexpensive to manufacture, bein8 an integrally
moulded tool, and that is designed so that it will reach
into corners, removing the necessity of using additional
tools.
The present invention has an elongate narrOw body
which is smooth and comfortable to handle, and at each end
it has a narrower blade member projecting from the body.
Each blade member has a straight edge extending from the
body and a curved edge that extends from the outer end of
the straight edge back to the body. One curved edge is
transversely rounded and the other curved edge is
transversely V-shaped. The material of the tool is chosen
for its low friction and strength properties (i.e.,
polypropylene) as well as for its cost. The shape of the
blade members permits the application of downward pressure
into the groove corners. The rounded edge is used to push
screen material into the groove and the V-shaped edge is
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used to push the bead into the groove after the round-
edged member has been used.
Broadly speaking, therefore, the present
invention provides a device for pushing a flexible
material into a retaining groove for capture therein
comprising: a central body member graspable by a human
hand; a first thin blade member at one end of the body
member and a second thin blade member at the other end of
the body member; each of the blade members including a
straight edge surface extending outwardly from the body
member and a convexly arcuate edge surface extending from
the outer end of the straight surface back to the body
member, the arcuate edge surface of the first blade member
being transversely rounded and the arcuate edge surface of
the second blade ~ember being transversely V-shaped.
BRIEF D~SCRIPTION OF T~F DRAWI~GS
Figure 1 shows a plan view of a screen applicator according
to a first embodiment of this invention.
Figures 2 to 5 show, respectively, elevation, bottom, left
end and right end views of the first embodiment.
Figures 6 and 7 show, respectively, left end and right end
views of a second embodiment of this invention.
Figure 8 shows a plan view of a screen applicator according
~ to a third embodiment of this inven-tion.
Figures 9 to 11 show, respectively, elevation, left end and
right end views of the third embodiment.
Figures 12 to 15 show the manner in which the applicator of
the invention is utilized.
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DESCRIPTION OF T~IE PR~FERRED EMBODIMENTS
Figures 1 to 5 illustrate a first embodiment 10
of the applicator device according to this invention~ The
device includes, first of all, a central body 12 which
has width, depth and length dimensions such that it can be
readily and comfortably grasped by a human hand. Typical
dimensions might be: width - 3/4"; depth - 1"; length -
4". The central body 12 has a flat long edge surface 14,
flat side surfaces 16,18 and converging end surfaces 20,20
10 at each end thereof. Since the device 10 is economical ly
moulded from a low friction material such as polypropylene,
filled nylon or any other suitable plastic material it is
desirable to provide hollow cavities 22 extending into the
central body 12 and separated by a web 26, to reduce the
amount of material used and to ensure uniform cooling and
curing after moulding.
An integrally moulded first blade member 30
extends from one end of the central body and includes a
straight edge surface 32 which is coextensive with the top
20 surface 14 of the central body 12. The blade member is
thin in comparison to the width of the central body, being
about 1/6 of that width and it is provided with a convexly
arcuate, transversely rounded edge surface 34 which curves
away from the free end 36 of surface 32 back towards the
central body 12. As seen in Figures l, 4 and 5 the blade
member 30 has a depth greater than that of the central body
12, the arcuate edge 34 terminating at a straight,
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transversely rounded, edge surface 38 which returns to the
central body 12.
An integrally moulded second blade member 40
extends from the other end of the central body 12 and
includes a straight edge surface 42 which is coextensive
with the top surface 14 of the central body. The second
blade member is the same width as the first blade ~ember
and has a convexly arcuate, transversely V-shaped edge
surface 44 which curves away from the free end 46 of the
edge surface 32 back towards the central body 12. The
blade member 40 also has a depth greater than that of the
central body 12, the arcuate edge 44 terminating at a
straight, transversely V-shaped edge surface 48 which
returns to the central body 12.
The embodiment shown in Figures 6 and 7 is
identical to that of Figures 1 to 5 with the exception that
it has rounded corners 50 at the junctions of the top, side
and bottom surfaces of the central body 12 to improve the
comfort while the device is being held by a human hand.
The embodiment of Figures 9 to 11 is perhaps the
most preferable in that it is the most comfortable to use.
In this embodiment the device 52 has a solid, thin central
body 54 having transversely rounded top and botto~ long
edge surfaces 56,58 respectively. The central body of this
embodiment is about 5/16" wide in comparison to the width
of about 3/4" for the first two embodiments.
First and second blade members 60 and 62 extend
from opposite ends of the central body. Blade members 60
and 62 are identical in shape to round-edged and V-edged
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blade members 30 and 40 respectively and do not require
further description. However, it will be seen that while
the straight edge surfaces 32 and 42 of the blade members
30 and 40 respectively were coextensive with the same long
edge surface of the central body 12, the straight edge
surfaces 64 and 66 of the blade members 60 and 62
respectively are each coextensive with a different long
edge, 58 and 56 respectively, of the central body 54. Thus
as seen in Figure 9, in contrast to Figure 2, the blade
10 members 60,62 project beyond the two edges 56758
respectively rather than beyond the bottom edge only of the
central body. The embodiment of Figures 9 to 11 will be
somewhat more economical to produce and will be more
comfortable in use, being easier to handle, with the blade
members having a lesser tendency to dig into the palm of
the user's hand when he applies pressure to the device.
OPERATION
As previously indicated the device of this
invention is to be used to apply or push elongated flexible
20 material into a retaining groove. In particular it is very
useful when one is repairing a window screen and has to
force an elongated retaining bead and a portion of the
screen material into a retaining groove of the screen
frame. The invention is particularly beneficial in that
its unique shape makes it possible to apply pressure to the
retaining bead all the way into a corner of the frame,
something that cannot be done with roller-type applicators.
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Figures 12 to 15 il lustrate the manner in which
the applicator of this invention would be utilized in a
typical screen repair situation. In these figures the
screen material is identified by reference number 68; the
frame member to which the screen material is to be secured
is identified by reference number 70; the retaining groove
in the frame member is identified by reference number 72;
and the elongated, flexible retaining member or bead is
identified by reference number 74.
With reference to Figure 12, the screen material
68 is laid over the frame members 70 and, using the round-
edged blade member 30 or 60 of the applicator pressure is
applied to the screen material to push it into the grooves
72 as seen in Figure 13. As shown in Figure 12 it is
possible to use the applicator right into the corner 76,
thereby stretching the screen material completely.
After the preliminary pushing oE the screen
material 68 into the grooves 72 it is necessary to force
the flexible retaining bead or member 74 into the grooves.
20 This is accomplished with the V-edged blade member 40 or 62
as shown in Figure 14. The V-edge mates with the flexible
member 74 and with the application of downward pressure the
flexible member 74 is forced into the groove 72 on top of
the previously formed screen material. The outward
pressure exerted by the flexible member 74 on the screen
material serves to retain the screen ma-terial in the
grooves 72. As seen in Figure 15 it is possible to ensure
that the flexible material is completely captured by the
grooves at the corner 76.
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The applicator of this invention is economical to
produce and is effectiv~ in applying flexible material to
the grooves of a window screen as indicated herein. Such
an applicator could even be included as a component of a
screen repair kit, along with screen material and suitable
flexible retaining material, such as might be sold to the
home handyman.
It i9 conceivable that a person skilled in the
art might be able to effect changes to the invention
without departing from the spirit thereof. Thus the
protection to be afforded this invention is to be
determined from the claims appended hereto.
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