Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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PAD ATTACHMÆNT FOR PAIN~r ROLLER ASSEMBLIES
Field of t~e Invention
The present invention generally relates to painting
implements and, more particularly, is concerned with an
attachment pad for use with paint roller assemblies for
smoothing or otherwise treating the paint fllm being applied by
the roller and for trimming or "cutting in" along surfaces
adjacent to the surface being painted.
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Description of the Prior Art
Rollers of many designs are commonly used applicators o~
paint and the like to surfaces. Although paint rollers are
capable of superior results, the quality of application and
texture of the applied paint is largely dictated by factors,
such as the type of roller, the propsrties of the paint, and
the physical characteristics of the surface being painted.
Known paint brush constructions have been deficient in providing
an accessory or cooperating element that is capable of being
affixed to the paint roller assembly for improving the quality
or modifying the appearance of the film being applied.
The inherent configuration of a paint roller also causes
difficulty in painting or trimming corners at the intersection
of a sur~ace adjacent the surfa~e being painted, such as along
a ceiling, door frame, and the liXe~ As a result, it is ofken
necessary to trim corners of intersecting surfaces by using
brushes or other separate devices.
Consequently, a need exists for improvements in painting
of surfaces with rollers by which the applied paint can be
further enhanced through smoothing or other treatment during
the painting operation. A need further exists for improve-
ments in the trimming of intersecting surfaces while using a
paint roller assembly.
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SU~MARY OF THE l.NVENTION
It is an objective of the present invention to provide a
unitary pad attachment for a paint roller assembly to provide
a paint trimming and surface treatment capability to the paint
film being applied. The attachment pad device of the invention
is direckly affixed to the roller assembly, or to a moveable
shield carried by a roller assembly, so that a material, such
as a fabric or foam face, contacts the applied paint film for
smoothing or creating some other aesthetic effect. In
addition, the attachable pad device herein disclosed is capable
of a trimming or "cutting in" operation at the corners of
intersecting surfaces during use of the roller. The ~oregoing
enhancement of the paint surface and trimming capability o~ the
invention are attained by an inexpensive device that is
lightweight and does not interfera with the expected ease of
loading paint with a roller.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there
is provided in combination with a yoke-like paint roller
assembly having a shield, a painting pad attachment device
comprising a pad support providing means ~or applying even
pressure to a painting pad lying adjacent thereto, the pad
support including a support sur~ace which is generally ~lat
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so as to receive and support a painting pad disposed
adjacent thereto, resilient means integrally formed with the
support ~or removably attaching the device to the paint
roller assembly, the resilient means comprising a clip
extending from a position adjacent to the support surfacef
the clip having opposing legs which snap onto an edge of the
shield in nonrotatablP engagement therewith, whereby the
paint roller assembly is useable, in the alternative, to
apply paint with a shielded roller and with a pad.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention,
there is provided in a paint roller assembly, including a
cylindrical roller, a roller support including a
crossmember, a handle extending from the crossmember, a
painting pad attachment device carried by and remoYable from
the roller assembly, the paint roller assembly being useable
to apply paint when the pad attachment device is removed
therefrom, the device comprising a pad support providing
means for applying even pressure to a painting pad lying
adjacent thereto, resilient means integrally formed with the
pad attachment device for removably attaching the device to
the paint roller assembly, the devics comprising a removable
extension o~ the crossmember whi~h, when attached to the
paint roller assembly, reduces splatter of paint droplets
generated by the roller, and the resilient means comprising
`~ a pair of resilient arms extending from the pad attachment
device and holding the pad support away ~rom the roller
support.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a side elevational view, with parts in section,
of a first embodiment of the pad attachment device for paink
roller assemblies of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the paint face of the
pad attachment device shown in Figure 1 having a trapezoid
configuration;
Figure 3 is a top plan view of the pad attachment device
shown in Figure 2 having a modified trapezoid con~iguration;
Figure 4 is a partial side elevational view, with parts in
section, of another embodiment o~ the pad attachment device of
the embodiment showing a first technique for attaching a paint
pad and a m~dified base;
Figure 5 is a partial side elevational view, with parts in
section, of 8till another embodiment of the pad attachment
device of the present invention showing an alternative technique
for attaching the paint pad;
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Figure G is a partial side elevational view, with parts in
section, of still another embodiment of the pad attachment
device of the present invention showing a third technique of
attachment of the fabric painting pad:
Figure 7 is a partial side elevational view, with parks in
section, of another embodiment of the pad attach~ent device of
the present invention having a flocked foam painting face;
Figure 8 is a partial side elevational view, with parts in
section, of still another embodiment of the pad attachment
device having an extended portion for trimming;
Figure 9 is a side perspective illustration of still
another embodiment of the pad attachment device of the present
invention ~aving wheels;
Figure 10 is a perspective view of another embodiment of
the present invention showing a paint roller and paint
application assembly which employs an adjustable shield:
Figure 11 i5 an end view, in partial section, of the
assefflbly shown in Figure 10;
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Figure 12 is an elevational view of a component of the
assembly shown in Figures 10 and 11;
Figure 13 is a top view of thle adjustable shield and pad
holder of the assembly shown in Figures 10 and 11;
Figure 14 is an enlarged elevational view of a portion of
the pad holder shown in Figures 10, 11 and 13; and
Figure 15 is an enlarged view of the top of the portion of
the pad holder shown in Figure 14.
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DETAI~ED DESCRIPTION OF THE INYENTION
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Referring now t~ Figure l, there is illustrated a first
embodiment of the pad attachment device of the present invention
shown a~fixed to an existing paint roller assembly and generally
designated by reference numeral 2. The known paint roller
a3sembly includes a paint roller 4 having a circumferentially
arranged fabric or fiber material 41 that absorbs paint and
applies a ~ilm to the surface being painted. In the assembly
shown in Figure l, the roller 4 is rotatably mounted by means
(not shown) to a paint shield housing 6 also of a known
configuration. ~he housing 6 may include a handle for
manipulation of the roller assembly in use and end walls (not
shown). Although the invention is shown in conjunction with a
paint ishield housing, the invention may also be attached to
o~her paint roller asisemblies by suitable techniques (not
shown).
The pad attachment device 2 is mounted on an enlarged lip
8 o~ housing 6 and extends in sub~tantially parallel
relationship to the axis o~ rotation o~ the roller 4. The pad
attachment device. 2 includes a single piece, pad holder l0,
which may be molded or otherwise ~ormed ~rom a plastic
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material. Pad holder 10 is arranged to snap into fixed position
substantially over the length of the enlarged lip 8 of the paint
shield housing 6. As seen in Figures 1 and 3, the pad holder
10 includes a retention pocket 11 formed by a somewhat curved
inner housing wall 12, an integral end surface 14, and an outer
section 16 disposed on the surface of lip 8 as seen in Figure
1. The wall 12 and outer section 16 cooperate to form opposing
elongated legs of a resilient elongated clip, which allows the
pad holder 10 to be snapped onto the edge of the paint shield
housing 6. The opposing legs engage the housing in such a way
as to prevent rotation of the pad holder about the edge of the
housing. The outer portion 16 is formed with a recess 18 having
an approximate shape corresponding to the outer enlarged face
of lip 8. The enlarged lip 8 may be positioned into the pocket
11 of pad holder 10 with recess 18 snapping in~o retention on
the lip 8.
As further seen in Figure 1, a portion 20 of the pad holder
10 angularly ~iverges outward from the outer surface of the
housing 6 and terminates with a protuberance 22. A wall 24
projects outward from protuberance 22 and housing 6, and
terminates with an outer edge portion 26 that retains the outer
edge of a pad 30. The wall 24 may have a series of
strengthening slots 24 as best shown in Fiyure 3. As seen in
Figure 1, the pad includes a painting face 32 formed from a
suitable material, such as fabric, foam, and the like, that is
adhesively bonded to a rigid or semi-rigid backing mPmber 34 by
any known technique. The pad 30 is affixed ko the holder 10 by
retention in a pair of opposed open-ended slots
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36,38 respectively formed on outer edge portion 26 and outer
section 16 as seen in Figure 1. The pad 30 may be replaced or
mounted in position by being slip lengthwise in the open ended
slots 36,38 or preferably, in the embodiment of Figure 1, the
holder is hollow in enclosed area 40.
The holder 10 and pad 30 are arranged to span approx-
imately the length of the housing shield 6 adjacent the roller
4 to provide contact with the surface being painted. As should
be apparent in the foregoing description, the painting face 32
trails the roller 4 as it applies paint to a surface and acts
to smooth the film applied by the roller. The surface of face
32 is disposed in a plane that is approximately tangential to
the interface between the roller 4 and the surface being
painted. Although the fabric painting face 32 shown in Figures
1 and 2 acts to smooth a paint ~ilm, the configuration and
texture of the face 32 can be modified to create other painting
effects when desirable. While the pad attachment device 2 is
further shown as an attachable fixture to the paint roller
housing 6 in Fi~ure 1, it is within the 5cope of the invention
to mold or otherwise fabricate the housing 6 and pad at~achment
device 2 as a unitary body (not shown) with the pad 30 being
insertable or removable in slots 36,38.
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In Figure 2, the paint face 32 is shown having a trapezoid
shape 50, with the largest side 52 being the farthest from the
axis of rotation of the roller 4. I~he face 32 forms an extended
outward dimension in vicinity of side 52.
Referring now to Figure 4, there is another embodiment of
the pad attachment of the invention generally designated as
reference numeral 2aO The pad holder lOa is modified from the
holder shown in preceding Figure 1, and includes a solid molded
configuration. The pocket lla formed by portions 12a, 14a, and
16a snaps on the shield housing 6 in a similar manner as
previously described. The pad 30a includes a fabric paintîng
face 3~a and a semi-rigid backing member 34a of any selected
material. The backing member 34a includes opposed extended
portions 60 that slide into the slots 36a and 38a formed in the
bottom of body lOaO The slots 36a and 38a confront each other
adjacent to a cutout area 62 of the holder 10 which receives the
pad 30a.
Referring now to Figure 5, there is illustrated still
another embodiment of the pad attachment 2b of the invention.
The pad holder lOb of pad attachment 2b has a slightly modified
design than the holder 20a shown in Figure 4. Specifically, the
bottom face of the pad holder lOb is flat,
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while the slots 36b and 38b are ~or;med on the lower outer sides
of the pad holder lOb. The edg~ portions 70 of the semi-rigid
backing material 34b are bent back in a modified U-shaped
configuration so that the inner directed edges 72 engage the
slot 36b, 38b. The pad 30b with face 32b may be slid into
position lengthwise as in the previous embodiments.
Referring now to Figure 6, there is illustrated another
embodiment of the pad attachment device of the present
invention, generally designated by reference numeral 2c. The
pad holder lOc of pad attachment device 2c is similar to the
pad holders o~ the preceding embodiments, except that the slots
for retention of the painting faces have been eliminated. In
addition, paint face fabric 32c is directly affixed to the
bottom 74 of the holder lOc by use of a suitable adhesive 76.
Referring now to Figure 7, there is illustrated another
techni~ue for attaching the paint face to the holder. The
holder lOd is the same general con~iguration as the holder lOc
of the embodiment of Figure 6, but the painting face 3Od
comprises a flocked foam painting face 80 that is affixed to
the ~ace of the holder by an adhesive bond 82.
In the foregoing description of the embodiments of Figures
4 through 7, four alternative ways for attachments and forms of
painting ~ace have been described. Each of
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these techniques can be utilized in conjunction with the holder
device of Figure 1, if desired.
Referring to Figure 8, the holder lOe of the invention is
shown formed within extended portion 90 along its outer face in
parallel relationship to the axis of rotation of the roller (not
shown). The extended porti~on 90 is intended to contact an
adjacent wall 92 at edge 94 to space the remaining portions of
holder lOe from the wall. In this position, the painting fabric
face 32e projects outward when pressed against surface 96 to
approach the intersection of the surfaces 92 and the painting
surface 96 so that the ~ace with retained paint can trim sr cut
in along a ceiling, door frame or other surface adjacent to the
frame being painted. This offers an improved ability of a paint
roller device to trim corners which is difficult with present
designs. The extended portion 90 i5 offset from the face 32c
to prev nt paint from migrating to the edge 94 for
unsatisfaatory trimming results.
Referring now to Figure 9, a modification of the trimming
capability of the pad attachment device of the present inv~ntion
is shown. Although the holder of the facing aan encompass any
of the foregoing shapes, for purpose of illustration, the pad
holder 100 is shown with a flat
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configuration. A pair of wheels 102 are mounted in shafts 104
for rotation about axis extending perpendicular to the axis of
rotation of roller 4. The wheels 102 permit the attachment
device to be moved along wall 106 in parallel relation to the
axis of rotation of the roller 4, such as during lifting the
roller or otherwise traversing the surface 108 being painted for
improved trimming results.
Figures 10 through 15 show a fifth alternative embodi-ment
of a pad attachment of the present invention., Figure 10 shows
a perspective view of the fifth embodiment, in which a paint
roller assembly 110 includes a handle 112 extending ~rom a yoke-
like crossmember 132. The crossmember 132, together with the
side supports 126 and the moveable shield 114, comprise a
housing 6g ~or the roller 4g. The movable shield 114 comprises
a bridging section 124 and flexible end walls 116. The flexible
and walls 116 and the side supports 126 have apertures which
engage a post 118 at each end of the roller 4g. The movable
shield 114 has a connecting section 122 along one edge thereof,
which connects the pad holder 2g to the moveable shield 114.
A knob 120 is disposed on the bridging section 124 of the
moveable shield, and operates as a stop to limit rotational
movement of the moveable shield in one direction.
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Figure 11 is an enlarged end view, in partial section, of
the assembly shown in Figure 10. The pad carrier 2g has slots
36g and 38g which engage and retain a painting pad 30g,
comprised of fibers 32g and a backing 34g. ~he plane defined
by the base 34g and the pad support surface are held at a
predetermined angle relative to the moveable shield 114.
However, the position of the moveable shield 114 is adjustable
relative to the crossmember 132, and the handle 112.
The ~eatures of the present invention which allow ~or
lo relative adjustment between the moveable shield 114 and the
crossmember 132 are most clearly shown in Figures 11, 12 and
13. A detent 12~ carried by the moveable shield 114 engages
the ~paces 130 between the detents 126 carried by the cross-
member 132. The detents 126 are disposed in two parallel
arcuate arrays. The movable ~hield 114, and ln particular the
bridging section 124, should be made of a material which is
strong yet flexible/ such as injection molded plastic, so that
the detent 128 can resiliently deflect radially ralative to the
post 118. Arcuate adjustment of the movable shield 114 relative
to the crossmember 132 accomplishes two objectives. Fir~t,
movement of the moveable shield causes a change in the extent
to which the roller 4g is shielded. The amount of
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shielding provided by the moveable shield 114 will ef~ect the
amount of splatter w~ich is distributed by the roller 4g, when
the roller 4g is being used to apply paint. Secondly, when the
pad 30g is being used to apply p~int, movement of the shield 114
relative to the cros~member 132 will vary the angle between the
plane of the pad 30g and the plane defined by the crossmember
132 and the handle 1120 ~djustment o~ that angle may be of
value when u~ing the pad 30g to apply paint, parti-cularly in
the case o~ applying paint to intricate molding and similar
lo complex shapes.
~nother impor~ant aspect o~ the movea~le shield/pad holder
combination is that it may be removed from engagement with the
crossmember 132 and side~supports 126. The side supports 126
are flexible so that they may be spread an amount suf~icient to
allow removal of the roller 4g and the post 118. Similarly, the
endwalls 116 of the moveable shield are resiliently flexible so
th~t they may be spread to dis-engage the post 118. The roller
and post 118 may then be re-engaged with ths side supports 126
to enable the assembly 110 to be used as a paint applicator
without splatter shielding and without a pad attachment~
Figures 13, 14 and 15 show the ~eatures o~ the pad holder
2g which enable it to be made from a simple injection molding
process. Figure 13 is a view o~ the back or outside
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o~ the moveable shield 114, viewed as a separate element. The
bumper or edge 26g runs along substantially the entire length
of the pad holder 2g, and provides means for spacing the
painting pad 30g and the bristles thereof away from an adjacent
wall when painting corners. The slots 36g and 38g ar~ formed
in pad grippers 136 and 138, respectively. The pad gripper 136
extends substantially the full length of the upper portion of
the pad holder 2g, except for two openings 137, which enable the
formation of the partial pad grippers 138.
lo In this fifth embodiment, as wikh the ~irst four
embodiments, the pad carrier is removable ~rom the means by
which the paint roller is held. When a user has the need to
apply paint by using an elongated narrow pad, the pad attach-
ment can be quickly and easily installed. When painting with
the pad is completed, the user can then remove the pad attaoh-
ment from khe assembly, and can continue painting larger areas
with the roller alone. The ability to change from khe ~3p t~
mode", when a pad i8 in a usable position on the roller
assembly, ko the "roller mode", when the pad attachment is
removed ~rom the roller assembly, is a significant a pect of
the presenk invention. The fifth embodiment of the present
invention provide~ for both removal of the paint pad holder
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and angular adjustment. Signi~icantly, the angular adjustment
of the pad holder can be accomplished simply by applying
pressure to the pad holder sufficient to cause resilient
movement o~ khe detents which hold it in position. By fully
retracting the moveable shield of the fifth embodimentr the user
can go from the "pad mode" to a 'Imodified roller mode" in which
the paint roller housing is sized to allow substantial exposure
of the paint roller.
In the fifth embodiment, chanyes between the pad mode and
the modi~ied roller mode can be aacomplished without need for
the user to touch the pad attachment itself. Rather, movement
o~ the moveable shield, and the consequent movement o~ the pad
attachment can be accomplished by the user with use of the knob
provided, or simply by applying direct pressure to the pad
attachment. Such pressure may be applied by simply holding the
assembly with the handle 112 and pressing the entire assembly
against any convenient surface to cause opening or closing of
the moveable shield. Whether the user uses the knob provided
on the moveable shield or direct pres~!ure to the pad holder,
there is no need for the user to touah any portion of tha paint
roller a~sembly which may conkain paint. In addition, complete
removal of the variou~ pad attachments mean6 from the paint
roller support-ing mean~ can be accomplished quickly and easily
because of
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the simplicity of the resilient clip-like and other attachment
means which do not include any threaded or other complex
fastening devices.
The foregoing detailed description has been given for
clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitation~
should be understood therefrom as some modifications will be
obvious to those skilled in the art.
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