Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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KIT FOR APPLYING A DECORATIVE LAMINATE TO A TARGET SURFACE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a kit for applying a decorative laminate to a
target
surface. The invention relates particularly to a kit for providing implements
and instructions for
applying a decorative laminate to a target surface. The kit relates
particularly to applying
laminates to a target architectural surface.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Decorative surface coverings are well known in the art. Wallpaper, and dry
color
laminates are generally known to be available in the form of a rolled web
which may be unrolled
and applied to a target surface, be it a wall, ceiling, floor or other
surface. Dry color laminate
materials comprising an adhesive layer and in some cases a release liner are
known, but are not in
wide use. The tools and methodologies for the efficient and aesthetic
application of such
materials are also not widely available.
As dry color laminates become widely available there is a need to provide the
implements
and the instructions for the successful application of the surface covering to
promote the use and
acceptance of this type of surface covering.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect, a kit provides tools and instructions for the application of a
rolled surface
covering material to a target surface. The kit comprises an applicator adapted
to hold a roll of
surface covering material and to apply the surface covering material to a
target surface. The kit
also comprises instructions for the application of a surface covering material
to the target surface.
In another aspect, the kit comprises an applicator adapted to hold a roll of
surface
covering material having a first width, and to apply the surface covering
material to a target
surface. The kit also comprises a second applicator adapted to hold and
facilitate the application
of a second roll of the surface covering material to the target surface, the
second roll having a
second width, the second width is substantially different from the first
width. The kit also
comprises instructions for the application of a surface covering material to
the target surface. The
instructions comprise methods for covering particular surface areas, such as
inside corners, and
methods for creating seams between adjacent portions of surface covering
material.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
While the claims hereof particularly point out and distinctly claim the
subject matter of
the present invention, it is believed the invention will be better understood
in view of the
following detailed description of the invention taken in conjunction with the
accompanying
drawings in which corresponding features of the several views are identically
designated and in
which:
Fig. schematically illustrates a perspective view of a kit according to one
embodiment of the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
As shown in the Fig. in one embodiment, a kit 100 for applying a surface
covering
material comprises a first applicator 10 adapted to hold a roll of surface
covering material and to
apply the surface covering material to a target surface. The kit 100 also
comprises instructions 20
for the application of the surface covering material and for the use of the
first applicator 10.
The first applicator 10 holds a roll of surface covering material and enables
the
application of the material to a target surface. The first applicator 10 may
include, but is not
limited to, features to facilitate the alignment, overlapping and severing of
the surface covering
material portions as the portions are applied to the target surface. The first
applicator 10 is
adapted to be used with rolls having a particular width or a width within a
particular range of
widths. The first applicator 10 may comprise indicia to provide guidance to a
user in the
sequence of operations to be performed in the use of the first applicator.
Such indicia may be in
the form of viewing angle dependent graphics such that the user will see
varying indicia relating
to particular steps of use depending upon the angle the indicia is viewed at.
Such viewing angle
dependent graphics may enable the communication of additional information to
the user
regarding the proper placement and use of the first applicator 10.
In one embodiment the first applicator comprises a series of smart dots which
guide the
user sequentially through the proper use of the first applicator 10 by the
sequential illumination
of respective dots according to input received in the use of the first
applicator 10. Exemplary first
applicators 10 are described in US Patent 6,808,586, issued October 26, 2004
to Steinhardt, and
pending US patent publication 2005/0092420, published May 5, 2005.
The surface covering material may comprise any surface covering material
available in a
roll form and adapted for application from the first applicator 10. Exemplary
surface covering
materials include dry paint as disclosed in co-pending US applications
2003/0134114A1,
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published July 17, 2003; 2004/0076788, published April 22, 2004; 2004/0200564,
published
October 14, 2004; 2004/0253421A1, published December 16, 2004; and
2005/0003129,
published January 6, 2005; 2005/0196607, published September 8, 2005; and WIPO
publications
2005/087492, published September 22, 2005; 2005/087490, published September
22, 2005;
2004/074003, published September 2, 2004; and 2004/074009, published September
2, 2004.
Exemplary instructions 20 include, but are not limited to, methods for
preparing the target
surface, applying the surface covering material to a target surface, applying
the material to
problematic areas of a target surface such as inside corners, outside corners,
and curved surfaces,
and dealing with items such as electrical outlets, thermostats, and switches.
The instructions 20
may also provide a description of, and instructions for the use of any and all
implements
provided in the kit 100 for the application of the surface covering material
to a target surface.
In one embodiment the breadth of the instructions includes a "Quick Start"
instruction set
limited to a basic set of instructions presented in a manner to allow a user
to proceed rapidly to
the actual application of the product without perusing more detailed
instructions.
In one embodiment the instructions 20 include highly detailed and more complex
"Professional Level" instructions to allow a consumer to achieve a more
polished appearance
with the surface covering material by following instructions requiring a
higher level of
application skill.
In one embodiment the instructions 20 include methods and tips for achieving a
unique
appearance using the surface covering material. Exemplary tips include the use
of the material as
an accent on surface, combining different colors and patterns of the material,
using the material
in combination with stencils or decals to achieve a more personalized
appearance, and
combinations of these methods.
The instructions 20 may be in any form suited to the nature of the content to
be
communicated. Exemplary instruction forms include, without being limited,
printed text and/or
images on the surface of the packaging of the kit 100, a printed booklet
providing textual and/or
graphic instruction in the use off the kit contents and the application of the
surface covering
material, digital storage media such as Digital Versatile Disks, Compact
Disks, Compact Flash
memory, or other digital storage means as are known in the art. The
instruction may also be
provided in an analog format such as video tape.
The instructions 20 may comprise audio and/or video presentations of the steps
associated
with the application of the surface covering material. The presentations may
include step by step
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application instructions provided in an audio format suitable for playing via
personal audio
equipment. The presentation may be organized to enable a listener to listen to
a step, pause the
presentation, perform the step, and then resume the presentation. In one
embodiment the
presentation may be provided as an MP3 file suitable for playback via a
personal MP3 player. In
other embodiments the presentation may be reviewable using audio and video
playback
equipment as is known in the art.
In one embodiment the instructions 20 comprise a media presentation wherein
the steps
of a method are described and the listener is talked through the process. In
this embodiment, the
presentation includes auditory cues that are part of the process and provides
reproductions of the
actual auditory cues so as to better inform the listener with regard to what
the cue associated with
a particular step should sound like. The presentation may also comprise visual
representations of
what following the steps of the method to any particular point in the process
should have yielded
from a visual perspective.
Exemplary instructions 20 include a data file comprising either auditory,
video or audio
and video content. This file may be provided on storage media as such media
are known in the
art, or may be made available via a network for access and/or downloading by a
user. The file
may be stored in a computer, transferred to other media or stored in a media
player such as an
MP3 player. The user may then proceed to review the file and may follow the
instructions during
the review. The file may provide a step of the instructions and then prompt
the user to perform
the step. The file may provide visual or audio cues to guide the user as to
the proper execution of
the step. The file may describe or show what should be happening during a
particular step. The
user may access the file in a number of ways. The file may be reviewed
sequentially and without
stopping. The file may be viewed piecemeal with stoppages at opportune times
to proceed with
the installation of the material. The file may be reviewed out of order with
particular steps being
played for review and other steps being skipped. The instructions may
separated into specific
chapters with each chapter relating a particular step or aspect of the
instructions 20.
In one embodiment the instructions 20 comprise a method for applying the
surface
covering material to an inside corner formed at the junction of a first
surface and a second
surface. In this embodiment the method comprises the step of scribing a line
on the first surface,
substantially parallel to a portion of the junction of the first and second
surfaces. The line is
spaced from the junction an amount less than the width of a roll of the
surface covering material.
As an example, a line may be scribed upon a wall, parallel to the junction of
the wall and a
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second wall and spaced from the junction by about 3.5 cm. Using surface
covering material from
a roll of material having a width of about 5 cm., a portion of the surface
covering material is
applied to the first surface between the line and the junction, one edge of
the surface covering
material is aligned with the line. A portion of surface covering material
covers a portion of the
5 second surface beyond the junction, about 1.5 cm. of material is applied
beyond the junction to
the second wall. The applied portion of material is smoothed to remove any
wrinkles or trapped
air in the portion applied to either the first or second wall. This process
may be repeated until the
entire wall junction has been covered. The portion of surface covering
material may be applied to
the second wall in an amount ranging from about 0.1 cm to about 2.5 cm. After
the application of
a portion of the surface covering material to the first surface and
overlapping onto the second
surface, a second portion of the surface covering material may be applied to
the second surface.
The second portion may be applied to overlap with the previously applied
portion. The second
portion may be applied entirely to the second surface or may be applied to
partially overlap onto
the first surface.
In one embodiment the instructions 20 comprise a method for the application of
the
surface covering material. In this embodiment the method includes the step of
selecting a portion
of the target surface that is substantially free of obstructions and corner
areas. First portions of
the surface covering material are applied at the junction of the target
surface and a second
surface. As an example, and without limiting the invention, a segment or a
plurality of segments
of a trim width roll of surface covering material may be used to cover a
portion of the center of a
wall of a room, at the point where the wall meets the ceiling, or ceiling trim
woodwork. After
applying the trim, second portions of the surface covering material are
applied from the first
portions, over the target surface to a desired surface covering termination
point. In the example,
material from a wide roll is applied with some overlap of the trim portion
between the trim
portion and the floor, floor junction woodwork, chair rail or other lower
termination point for the
surface covering.
The covering of the surface may proceed at intervals at the convenience of the
installer.
There is no wet edge or any need to maintain a wet edge or any need to proceed
before the web
material dries, as may be the case when installing wallpaper. The application
of the material need
not begin in an unobtrusive portion of the room. Instead the application may
be started in the
most open and visible portion of the area to be covered.
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In one embodiment the instructions comprise a method or methods for applying
the
surface covering material such that adjacent portions of the surface covering
material abut each
other without an overlapped seam.
In one embodiment, the method comprises the step of providing a quantity of a
surface
covering laminate material. The quantity may be separated into discrete
portions either manually
or by using a laminate applicator. At least one portion of the surface
covering laminate comprises
a web material having a first side and a second side wherein the first side
comprises an adhesive
and wherein the second side is releasably joined to a release liner material
or backing sheet
material. The first side of a first portion of the surface covering laminate
is disposed in contact
with a surface to be covered. The first side of a second portion of the
surface covering laminate is
disposed in contact with the surface to be covered and at least a part of the
second portion
overlaps a part of the release liner of the first portion. The release liner
is removed from the
second portion of the surface covering laminate material. The release liner is
removed from the
first portion of the surface covering laminate material together with that
part of the second
portion which overlaps the first portion. This leaves the second portion
adjacent and abutted to
the first portion.
The removal of the backing sheet material or release liner may be facilitated
by applying
a portion of an adhesive backed backing sheet removal implement to an upper
corner of the
release liner and pulling downward at an angle of between about 15 and about
75 degrees from
the long edge of the surface covering laminate. In an alternative embodiment
the backing sheet
may be removed by pulling at an angle of between about 30 and about 60 degrees
from the long
edge. The backing sheet removal implement may be affixed to each successive
portion of surface
covering laminate as the portion is affixed to the target surface. In one
embodiment the
instructions 20 include a card illustrating the use of the adhesive backed
backing sheet removal
implement.
The peel angle associated with the removal process is considered to be about
180 degrees
since the material is being pulled off by a motion moving along the target
surface away from the
starting point. At the same time the material is being pulled at an angle of
between about 15 and
about 75 degrees from the long edge of the surface covering material.
In one embodiment the seaming method includes burnishing the second portion of
material at the point of overlap with the first portion of material.
Burnishing the material by
passing a roller burnishing tool along the overlap point may improve the
removal of the
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overlapped portion together with the backing sheet of the first portion. An
exemplary burnishing
tool is a Speedball Brayer, available from Speedball Art Products, of
Statesville, North Carolina.
In one embodiment the method includes aligning an edge of an implement along
the
overlapped edge of the first portion prior to the removal of the release liner
of the first portion to
enhance the removal of material.
In one embodiment the method includes providing at least a first portion of
surface
covering laminate comprising a pull tab fixedly attached to the release liner
and disposed to
extend beyond the web material of the laminate sheet. In this embodiment there
is no need to
apply a backing sheet removal implement to the at least one portion.
In one embodiment the method includes providing a surface covering laminate
portion
wherein the release liner is more than coextensive with the web material. In
this embodiment, the
extra release liner may be used to begin the removal of the release liner as a
whole and no
additional backing sheet removal implement is needed.
In one embodiment the method includes providing at least one quantity of
surface
covering laminate material wound about itself in a substantially cylindrical
form and having a
length determined according to a dimension of the surface to be covered. In
this embodiment, the
surface covering laminate is prepared according to the dimensions of the
target surface such that
each roll of material is sized to cover a single width of area from edge to
edge.
In one embodiment the method includes providing a surface covering laminate
wherein
the release liner comprises indicia disposed parallel to at least one edge of
the material. In this
embodiment, the release liner may be printed, embossed or otherwise marked
with indicia to
guide the installer as to where subsequent portions should be positioned to
achieve the optimal
overlapped portion. The indicia may be a continuous line or a segmented line.
The indicia may
assist in the alignment of subsequent portion with or without a covering
applicator. The material
may comprise indicia along a single edge or each edge to indicate the overlap
point for
subsequent portions applied along either edge.
In one embodiment, the method comprises the step of providing a quantity of a
surface
covering laminate material. The quantity may be separated into discrete
portions either manually
or by using a laminate applicator. At least one portion of the surface
covering laminate comprises
a web material having a first side and a second side wherein the first side
comprises an adhesive
and wherein the second side is releasably joined to a release liner material
or backing sheet
material. The first side of a first portion of the surface covering laminate
is disposed in contact
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with a surface to be covered. The first side of a second portion of the
surface covering laminate is
disposed in contact with the surface to be covered and at least a part of the
second portion
overlaps a part of the release liner of the first portion. The release liner
is removed from the first
portion of the surface covering laminate material together with that part of
the second portion,
including the second portion release liner, which overlaps the first portion.
This leaves the second
sheet adjacent and abutted to the first portion. Optionally, the release liner
for the second portion
may be scored along the overlap line to facilitate the shearing of the liner
at that point during the
removal process.
The removal of the backing sheet material or release liner may be facilitated
by applying
a portion of an adhesive backed backing sheet removal implement to an upper
corner of the
release liner and pulling downward at an angle of between about 15 and about
75 degrees from
the long edge of the surface covering laminate. In an alternative embodiment
the backing sheet
may be removed by pulling at an angle of between about 30 and about 60 degrees
from the long
edge. The backing sheet removal implement may be affixed to each successive
portion of surface
covering laminate as the portion is affixed to the target surface. In one
embodiment the
instructions 20 include a card illustrating the use of the adhesive backed
backing sheet removal
implement.
The peel angle associated with the removal process is considered to be about
180 degrees
since the material is being pulled off by a motion moving along the target
surface away from the
starting point. At the same time the material is being pulled at an angle of
between about 15 and
about 75 degrees from the long edge of the surface covering material.
In one embodiment the seaming method includes burnishing the second portion of
material at the point of overlap with the first portion of material.
Burnishing the material by
passing a roller burnishing tool along the overlap point may improve the
removal of the
overlapped portion together with the backing sheet of the first portion. An
exemplary burnishing
tool is a Speedball Brayer, available from Speedball Art Products, of
Statesville, North Carolina.
In one embodiment the method includes aligning an edge of an implement along
the
overlapped edge of the first portion prior to the removal of the release liner
of the first portion to
enhance the removal of material along the overlap point.
In one embodiment the method includes providing at least a first portion of
surface
covering laminate comprising a pull tab fixedly attached to the release liner
and disposed to
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extend beyond the web material of the laminate portion. In this embodiment
there is no need to
apply a backing sheet removal implement to the at least one portion.
In one embodiment the method includes providing a surface covering laminate
material
wherein the release liner is more than coextensive with the web material. In
this embodiment, the
extra release liner may be used to begin the removal of the release liner as a
whole and no
additional backing sheet removal implement is needed.
In one embodiment the instructions include a method for applying a surface
covering
material that does not incorporate a backing sheet and for achieving a butt
seam between adjacent
portions of this material. This embodiment includes steps of applying a first
portion of the
material using an applicator that incorporates a folding board. The folding
board applicator folds
one edge of the material back during the application such that a predetermined
amount of the
material is not adhered to the target surface but is instead folded away from
the surface. A second
portion of the material is then applied overlapping the folded portion of the
first material portion.
The overlapped portions are then burnished at the junction with the target
surface and removed
either with or without the aid of an edged implement.
The method of applying the surface covering material utilizing a folding board
applicator
may also be practiced with a surface covering material comprising a release
liner. The release
liner of the second portion of surface covering material may be scored along
the overlapped fold
line prior to the removal of the release liner form the first portion of the
material.
In one embodiment the method includes steps of providing a liner-less surface
covering
material and applying a first portion of the material to the target surface. A
portion of the first
material portion substantially parallel to one edge of the applied portion is
then covered using an
edge tool or with an adhesive edge covering implement. A second material
portion is then
applied to the target surface overlapping the edge tool or adhesive edge
covering implement. The
tool, or adhesive implement is then removed together with the overlapped
portion of the second
material portion.
In one embodiment the method includes providing at least one quantity of
surface
covering laminate material wound about itself in a substantially cylindrical
form and having a
length determined according to a dimension of the surface to be covered. In
this embodiment, the
surface covering laminate is prepared according to the dimensions of the
target surface such that
each roll of material is sized to cover a single width of area from edge to
edge.
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In one embodiment the method includes providing a surface covering laminate
wherein
the release liner comprises indicia disposed parallel to at least one edge of
the material. In this
embodiment, the release liner may be printed, embossed or otherwise marked
with indicia to
guide the installer as to where subsequent portions should be positioned to
achieve the optimal
5 overlapped portion. The indicia may be a continuous line or a segmented
line. The indicia may
assist in the alignment of subsequent portion with or without a covering
applicator. The material
may comprise indicia along a single edge or each edge to indicate the overlap
point for
subsequent portions applied along either edge.
Information relating to additional instructional sources may also be provided
as part of
10 the kit 100. Exemplary additional sources include, without being limiting,
telephone contact
numbers, internet web sites, mailing addresses, and order forms for additional
instruction media.
Provided internet sources may include access to content that may in turn be
downloaded by a
user for storage and playback at a later time or for printing for use during
the application process.
In one embodiment the kit provides guidance regarding access to the services
of
professional installers to assist in part or all of the actual installation.
In this embodiment,
consumers who choose to forgo installing the surface covering material by
themselves can easily
explore the possibility of having the installation performed by a professional
installer.
In one embodiment the kit 100 also comprises a reference card 25. The
reference card 25
comprises a condensed version of the application instructions and may comprise
a lanyard, clip,
or other means of attachment to enable the installer to keep the reference
card 25 at close
proximity while proceeding with the surface covering application. The
reference card 25 may
comprise a set of keywords relating to the steps of the installation process,
or a set of graphical
images associated with the application steps. The reference card 25 may refer
to indicia
incorporated into the application implements provided in the kit to provide
guidance to the user
in the proper sequence of use of any particular implement. The reference card
25 may comprise a
combination of text and graphics to prompt the user in the steps of the
application method.
In one embodiment the kit 100 further comprises a second applicator 30 adapted
to hold
and facilitate the application of a second roll of the surface covering
material to the target
surface. The second applicator 30 is adapted to be used in the application of
rolls of the surface
covering material of a width that is substantially different from the width or
range of widths of
rolls associated with the first applicator 10. An exemplary second applicator
is adapted to the
application of a trim roll of the surface covering material. A trim roll is
relatively narrow in
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comparison to the rolls associated with the first applicator 10. As an
example, a roll configured
for use with the first applicator may comprise a width in the range of about
25 to about 35 cm. In
contrast a roll configured for use with the second applicator may comprise a
width of about 4 to
about 8 cm.
In an alternative embodiment, the second applicator serves as a dispenser and
facilitates
the dispensing of portions of the relatively narrow roll for manual
application to the target
surface.
In one embodiment the surface covering material may comprise a release liner
and the
second applicator, or dispenser, 30 may comprise a means for separating the
release liner of the
surface covering material from the remainder of the material. The means may
comprise a tab or
series of tabs configured to enable the surface covering material to be routed
with the release
liner positioned on one side of a tab and the remainder of the material on the
other side of the tab.
This configuration may facilitate the separation of the release liner as the
surface covering
material is dispensed from the second applicator 30.
In one embodiment the instructions 20 may include steps for facilitating the
separation of
the adhesive portion of the trim troll of surface covering material from the
release liner of the
roll. The steps may include routing a portion of the roll out of the dispenser
30 and passing the
portion under a separator tab. A portion of a backing sheet removal implement
may be adhesively
attached to the adhesive portion of the material, including being attached to
the material along the
tab edge and upstream of the tab. The subsequent removal of addition material
from the dispenser
may result in a separation of the adhesive portion from the backing sheet
material along the tab
edge.
The second applicator 30 may comprise visual cues to enable a user to load a
roll of
material 90 into the second applicator so as to properly separate the release
liner during
dispensing. The instructions 20 may include methods for the proper loading of
the second
applicator 30 and for the use of the second applicator 30 in the overall
application of the surface
covering material.
In one embodiment the kit 100 includes an instruction card 27 that provides
instructions
regarding separating the release liner material from the adhesive portion of
the laminate material
of the trim roll. The kit 100 may comprises one or more edge recovery cards 29
adapted to
facilitate recovering the separation of the release liner form the remaining
portion of the trim roll
of the laminate material.
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The kit 100 may further comprise an application refinement implement 40
adapted to
facilitate the refining of the application of the surface covering material to
the target surface. The
application refinement implement may comprise a smoothing tool having a
gripping surface and
one or more smoothing edges adapted to facilitate the removal of wrinkles
and/or air bubbles
from portions of the surface covering material previously applied to a target
surface.
In one embodiment the application refinement implement 40 comprises one or
more
alignment holes which may be used in conjunction with a scribing implement 50
to facilitate the
application of the surface covering material in problematic areas such as
corners. In this
embodiment, the instructions 20 may provide a method for the use of the
application refinement
implement 40 together with a scribing implement 50 in the application of the
surface covering
material to problematic areas.
The kit 100 may further comprise scribing implement 50. Exemplary scribing
implements
include, without being limiting, awls, pens, and pencils. The scribing
implement 50 may be
configured to function cooperatively with the application refinement implement
40 in the
scribing of lines upon the target surface to facilitate the application of the
surface covering
material.
In one embodiment the surface covering material includes a release liner or
backing sheet
material. In this embodiment the kit 100 may comprise a quantity of a backing
sheet removal
implement 60. The backing sheet removal implement 60 is adapted to adhesively
attach to the
backing sheet material. Such attachment enables the separation of the backing
sheet material
from the remainder of the surface covering material after the surface covering
material and
backing sheet have been applied to the target surface. The backing sheet
removal implement 60
may be provided in the form of discrete portions, or in the form of a roll of
backing sheet
removal material. A dispenser 65 may be provided to facilitate the separation
of a roll of backing
sheet removal implement 60 into discrete portions. The instructions 20 may
comprise steps for
the efficient use of the backing sheet removal implement 60 during the
application of the surface
covering material.
The kit 100 may further comprise at least one cleaning implement 70 adapted to
clean at
least a portion of the first applicator 10 to maintain or restore optimal
applicator performance.
The application of the surface covering material using the first applicator 10
may be degraded
over time as dust, debris or other material collects upon a portion, or
portions, of the first
applicator 10. Degradation in the performance of the first applicator 10 may
be attributed to the
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quality of the surface covering material and may adversely impact the overall
consumer
experience associated with the surface covering material. The maintenance or
restoration of
optimal applicator function may require that the affected portion, or
portions, of the first
applicator 10 be cleaned to remove any accumulated material. Providing an
appropriate cleaning
implement may encourage applicator cleaning and facilitate maintaining the
first applicator at a
level of performance closer to the optimal level thereby enhancing the
consumer experience
associated with the application of the surface covering material. Exemplary
cleaning implements
70 include, without limitation, discrete packaged alcohol wipes as are known
in the art, and an
alcohol pen with a porous tip. The alcohol wipe or pen may be used to restore
the performance of
the applicator 10 to optimal or near optimal. In one embodiment the
instructions 20 may include
a step of using the cleaning implement 70 to clean the applicator when a new
roll of surface
covering material is inserted into the applicator.
The kit 100 may further comprise a carton 80 adapted to hold all of the
component
implements of the kit 100. The carton 80 may be a simple container and may
hold the other kit
100 implements in a loose fashion. In one embodiment the carton 80 is
segmented and comprises
tailored compartments, each compartment configured to hold a particular kit
implement. As an
example, the carton 80 may have tailored compartments for each of a first
applicator 20, an
instructional Digital Versatile Disk 20, an instructional booklet 20, a second
applicator 30, an
application refinement implement 40, a scribing implement 50, a quantity of
backing sheet
removal material 60, and a dispenser for the backing sheet removal material
65, a reference card
and Idea Books describing special application techniques.. The carton 80 may
comprise
additional space configured for storing one or more rolls 90 of surface
covering material
configured for use with either the first applicator 10 or the second
applicator 30. The carton 80
may comprise storage space for additional instructional materials. In one
embodiment the kit 100
25 comprises at least one roll 90 of the surface covering material. In one
embodiment the carton 80
may be unfolded to display and access all the kit 100 components, and may
subsequently be
folded to store all the components.
The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being
strictly
limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise
specified, each such
dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally
equivalent range
surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as "40 mm" is
intended to mean
"about 40 mm".
CA 02644659 2008-09-03
WO 2007/099514 PCT/IB2007/050688
14
All documents cited in the Detailed Description of the Invention are, in
relevant part,
incorporated herein by reference; the citation of any document is not to be
construed as an
admission that it is prior art with respect to the present invention. To the
extent that any meaning
or definition of a term in this written document conflicts with any meaning or
definition of the
term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition
assigned to the term in
this written document shall govern.
While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated
and
described, it would have been obvious to those skilled in the art that various
other changes and
modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention. It is
therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and
modifications that are
within the scope of the invention.
