Abstract: A paint tray includes a body having a base portion and sidewalls forming a paint well. Each sidewall has an upper top portion. The upper top portions collectively define an upper rim of a mouth of the well. A barred shaped member is hingedly connected to the upper top portion of a first sidewall such that the barred shaped member pivots relative to the body between first and second positions. In the first position, the barred shaped member is disposed within and surrounded by an inner perimeter of the upper rim of the mouth of the paint well. In the second position, the barred shaped member extends away from the upper rim and neither extends over nor within the mouth of the paint well. The paint tray is fabricated out of a molded material, and preferably comprises molded plastic.

Abstract: A paint tray includes a body having a base portion and sidewalls forming a paint well. Each sidewall has an upper top portion. The upper top portions collectively define an upper rim of a mouth of the well. A barred shaped member is hingedly connected to the upper top portion of a first sidewall such that the barred shaped member pivots relative to the body between first and second positions. In the first position, the barred shaped member is disposed within and surrounded by an inner perimeter of the upper rim of the mouth of the paint well. In the second position, the barred shaped member extends away from the upper rim and neither extends over nor within the mouth of the paint well. The paint tray is fabricated out of a molded material, and preferably comprises molded plastic.

Abstract: A roller guide assembly is attached to a paint roller frame to maintain a consistent space between a surface adjacent to the surface being painted and a roller cover carried by the roller frame. The roller guide assembly includes a guide arm attached to a vertical portion of the roller frame and a mounting clamp that that fits on the roller frame. The mounting clamp uses an adjustable locking screw and tightening knob to secure the mounting clamp to the roller frame. The mounting clamp has a cavity configured to receive the guide arm such that the guide arm extends past the roller cover. The roller guide assembly has a storage clip mounted on the roller frame for temporarily storing the guide arm while the roller cover is being reloaded with paint.

Abstract: A drop cloth includes: a sheet of material having a length that is greater than its width; and a series of panels, each panel being connected to the sheet in series along the length of the sheet. The length may be substantially greater than the width. The panels are generally identical to one another and are equally spaced along the length of the sheet such that the spacing is sufficient for the sheet to be folded in-between adjacent panels such that the panes are stacked, the spacing between adjacent panels being about twice the thickness of each panel. The drop cloth can be used for protection against drips and spills when painting along a wall of a room.

Abstract: A roller guide assembly is attached to a paint roller frame to maintain a consistent space between a surface adjacent to the surface being painted and a roller cover carried by the roller frame. The roller guide assembly includes a guide arm attached to a vertical portion of the roller frame and a mounting clamp that that fits on the roller frame. The mounting clamp uses an adjustable locking screw and tightening knob to secure the mounting clamp to the roller frame. The mounting clamp has a cavity configured to receive the guide arm such that the guide arm extends past the roller cover. The roller guide assembly also has a storage clip mounted on the roller frame for temporarily storing the guide arm while the roller cover is being reloaded with paint. The guide arm mounts to the roller frame between a first bend extending from a shank that extends from a cage section of the roller frame that receives the roller cover and before a second bend that bends back to meet a handle grip of the roller frame.

Abstract: A drop cloth includes: a sheet of material having a length substantially greater than its width; and a series of panels, each panel being connected to sheet along the length of the sheet. The panels are generally identical to one another and are equally spaced along the length of the sheet such that, when the drop cloth is applied to a staircase, a first panel of a pair of adjacent panels covers a horizontal section of the stairs and the other panel of the pair of adjacent panels covers a vertical section of the stairs, with a fabric area extending between the pair of adjacent panels and over a nose of a stair. The drop cloth can be used for protection against drips and spills when painting along a staircase. The drop cloth also can be used when painting along a wall of a room.

Abstract: A roller guide assembly is attached to a paint roller frame to maintain a consistent space between a surface adjacent to the surface being painted and a roller cover carried by the roller frame. The roller guide assembly includes a guide arm attached to a vertical portion of the roller frame and a mounting clamp that that fits on the roller frame. The mounting clamp uses an adjustable locking screw and tightening knob to secure the mounting clamp to the roller frame. The mounting clamp has a cavity configured to receive the guide arm such that the guide arm extends past the roller cover. The roller guide assembly also has a storage clip mounted on the roller frame for temporarily storing the guide arm while the roller cover is being reloaded with paint. The guide arm mounts to the roller frame between a first bend extending from a shank that extends from a cage section of the roller frame that receives the roller cover and before a second bend that bends back to meet a handle grip of the roller frame.

Abstract: A quick-release paint roller having a roller cover that can be removed from a handle assembly without requiring the user to apply a force directly to the roller cover. The paint roller includes a tube-shaped roller cover having an outer surface of paint absorbing material and a rotatably mounted roller core. When the actuator is in the release position, the roller mounting device is free of the latching mechanism, thus permitting the roller core and roller cover to be removed from the handle assembly.

Abstract: A quick-release paint roller having a roller cover that can be removed from a frame without requiring the user to apply a force directly to the roller cover. The frame includes a pair of arms having base portions received in a hand grip. The arms diverge outwardly to form a Y-shaped frame, wherein distal ends of the arms have mounting cones configured to receive opposing ends of the tube-shaped roller cover in a rotatable manner with respect to the frame. The paint roller has a roller capture mechanism that pivots the arms between a roller-capture position in which the roller cover is captured between the arms and a roller-release position in which the roller cover is decoupled from the arms. A roller-release button is configured to actuate the capture mechanism to pivot the arms between their roller-capture positions and their roller-release positions.

Abstract: A package opener (10) includes first and second opposed elongate members joined together for scissor action about a pivot joint (16). The first member (12) includes a first handle grip (18) at a rear end and a first cutting element (20) having a first blade (26) at a front end. The second member (13) includes a second handle grip (19) at a rear end and a second cutting element (21) having a second blade (27) at a front end thereof. The cutting elements include a leg portion (40,41) positioned between an arm segment (30,31) on which the pivot joint is located and the blade. Each cutting element also has a gap (G) in the blade portion. The leg portions and the gap enable the cutting elements, when opened, to fit over a package lip of a blister-type package so that the package opener can cut around the interior perimeter of the package lip to open the package. The multi-function package opener may also have a miniature utility knife blade (50) and at least one screwdriver (60).

Abstract: A quick-release paint roller having a roller cover that can be removed from a frame without requiring the user to apply a force directly to the roller cover. The frame includes a pair of arms having base portions received in a hand grip. The arms diverge outwardly to form a Y-shaped frame, wherein distal ends of the arms have mounting cones configured to receive opposing ends of the tube-shaped roller cover in a rotatable manner with respect to the frame. The paint roller has a roller capture mechanism that pivots the arms between a roller-capture position in which the roller cover is captured between the arms and a roller-release position in which the roller cover is decoupled from the arms. A roller-release button is configured to actuate the capture mechanism to pivot the arms between their roller-capture positions and their roller-release positions.

Abstract: A trim tool and paint tray system for use in dispensing paint. The system includes a trim tool having a paint applicator to apply paint to a surface to be painted and at least one edge guard to shield adjacent surfaces that are to remain free of paint from the applicator. The system also includes a paint tray having a paint-receiving well and at least one slot free of paint. The paint tray is configured to receive the trim tool such that the paint applicator is received in the paint well to charge the paint applicator with paint and the edge guard is received in the slot so the edge guard remains free of paint.

Abstract: A quick-release paint roller having a roller cover that can be removed from a handle assembly without requiring the user to apply a force directly to the roller cover. The paint roller includes a tube-shaped roller cover having an outer surface of paint absorbing material and a rotatably mounted roller core. When the actuator is in the release position, the roller mounting device is free of the latching mechanism, thus permitting the roller core and roller cover to be removed from the handle assembly.