Paint Protection Method and Cover

Abstract

A paint protection method and cover is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, the method includes providing a cover having a substrate layer, an overlying absorbent layer, and an integrated adhesive strip disposed on an outer perimeter surface of the substrate layer and proximate to at least one edge of the cover. The method further includes forming at least one paint impermeable seam between the cover and a surface by adhering the adhesive strip to the surface.

Description

I. CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/974,857 filed Sep. 25, 2007. The disclosure of the provisional application is incorporated herein by reference.

II. FIELD

The present disclosure is generally related to a paint protection method and cover.

III. DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

There is a need for an improved method and cover to protect surfaces from accidentally receiving paint being applied to an adjacent desired surface. The current methods use bulky drop cloths and covers that and not adaptable to a number of different configurations. An edge of the drop cloth is bunched along a baseboard and spread out across a floor surface. As paint is applied to a wall surface, excess paint drips down the wall and behind the edge of the drop cloth. Alternatively, a large sheet of material is cut to the desired size and subsequently attached to a baseboard, for example, using tape dispensed from a roll. The tape is susceptible to not adhering properly to both the sheet and the underlying surface. Moreover, it is difficult to apply the tape on a vertical surface to protect window openings or other features that may be vertically orientated while maintaining the sheet in the proper orientation.

Another shortcoming of the prior art is that the prior art cover either absorbs the paint allowing it to soak through to damage the underlying surface or the cover is not absorbent and causes the paint to run off the sheet.

Another need in the art is for a paint protection method and cover that is easy to adhere to a surface but is also easy to remove and can be reused.

There is also a need in the art for a paint protection method and cover that is lightweight and durable.

Notwithstanding the existence of prior art paint protection covers, there is a need for an improved paint protection method and cover.

It is, therefore, to the effective resolution of the aforementioned problems and shortcomings of the prior art that the present invention is directed.

However, in view of the prior art at the time the present invention was made, it was not obvious to those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art how the identified needs could be fulfilled.

IV. SUMMARY

In a particular embodiment, a paint protection cover is disclosed. The cover comprising a substrate and an overlying absorbent layer. The absorbent layer further includes an integrated adhesive strip disposed proximate to the perimeter of the cover so that the cover is adapted to be removably adhered to a receiving surface to form an liquid impermeable seam between the cover and the receiving surface to be protected from paint drips. The substrate and absorbent layer are substantially similar in size whereby the absorbent layer absorbs paint and the substrate prevents paint from passing completely through the cover. The cover is pre-sized for the particular application, such as a standard window size or baseboard height, so that the cover can be quickly and easily removably adhered over the window or baseboard to be protected from paint.

In another particular embodiment, the cover may be removably secured to protect the underside of a soffit when painting an exterior wall. The cover having adhesive along the perimeter of three edges. To completely cover the soffit, a plurality of covers may be secured together with the adhesive edge of a cover to the non-adhesive edge of an adjacent cover to protect the soffit from overspray from painting exterior walls. Due to the orientation of the soffit as a lower surface of a roof overhang, having an integrated adhesive strip improves the efficiency and ability to quickly protect the soffit with the cover.

In another particular embodiment, the cover comprises a pair of perforations disposed equidistant from the edges of the cover. Accordingly, a removable first lateral strip is formed between a first edge of the cover and a first perforation. Removing the first lateral strip reduces the width of the cover. Moreover, a second lateral strip is formed between a second edge of the cover and a second perforation reducing the width of the cover even further. The perforations of the cover can be disposed and arranged in a plurality of different configurations.

In another particular embodiment, a paint protection method is disclosed. The method includes providing a cover having a substrate layer, an overlying absorbent layer, and an integrated strip disposed on an outer perimeter surface of the absorbent layer and proximate to at least one edge of the cover. The method further includes forming at least one liquid impermeable seam between the cover and a receiving surface by adhering the integrated adhesive strip to the receiving surface. In addition, a perforation may be disposed on the cover that passes through the substrate layer and overlying absorbent layer, wherein the at least one perforation adapted to separate the cover into at least a first portion and a second portion. The method may include providing a pair of perforations disposed equidistantly from a respective edge on the cover, wherein the pair of perforations passes through the substrate layer and overlying absorbent layer. A removable first lateral strip may be formed between a first edge of the cover and a first perforation of the pair of perforations, wherein removing the first lateral strip along the first perforation reduces a width of the cover. The method may further include providing a removable second lateral strip formed between a second edge of the cover and a second perforation of the pair of perforations, wherein removing the second lateral strip along the second perforation reduces the width of the cover.

One particular advantage provided by embodiments of the paint protection method and cover is that the adhesive along the perimeter of the cover increases the efficiency so that the cover may be positioned on either a horizontal or vertical surface. Another advantage provided by disclosed embodiments is that the cover is easily adaptable for use with different sizes

Other aspects, advantages, and features of the present disclosure will become apparent after review of the entire application, including the following sections: Brief Description of the Drawings, Detailed Description, and the Claims.

V. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a particular illustrative embodiment of a cover to protect surfaces from paint;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a particular illustrative embodiment of the cover shown installed over a rectangular window;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a particular illustrative embodiment of the cover shown installed over a baseboard;

FIG. 4 is a side view of a particular illustrative embodiment of the cover shown along line 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a particular illustrative embodiment of the cover shown configured to install over a baseboard or on a wall;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a particular illustrative embodiment of the cover shown configured to install over an arched window;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a particular illustrative embodiment of the cover shown installed on the soffit of a home;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a particular illustrative embodiment of the cover shown configured to install over a soffit;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a particular illustrative embodiment of the cover showing the perforations;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a particular illustrative embodiment of the cover shown in FIG. 9 with lateral strips partially removed along the perforations; and

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram of a particular illustrative embodiment of a paint protection method.

VI. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a particular illustrative embodiment of a paint protection cover is disclosed and generally designated 100. The protective cover 100 includes a substrate 130, which is impermeable to liquid, and an overlying absorbent layer 120. An integrated adhesive strip 140 is disposed on an outer perimeter of the absorbent layer 120. The integrated adhesive strip 140 allows the cover 100 to be removably secured to a desired location to cover a receiving surface to be protected from paint. The substrate 130 may be an impermeable and flexible biodegradable coating applied to the absorbent layer 120. The substrate 130 may also be an impermeable sheet forming a laminate with the absorbent layer 120.

FIG. 2 shows the cover 100 installed over a window 150, which is the receiving surface for the cover 100. The walls 160 are the paint surfaces where paint will be applied. Accordingly, by covering the window 150 with the cover 100, the walls 160 can be easily and quickly painted with a sprayer without concern for overspray. Referring now to FIG. 3, a cover 200 is configured to be secured over a baseboard 250, which is the receiving surface for the cover 100. The cover 200 has an upper portion that is secured vertically over the baseboard 250 and a lower portion that covers the flooring material 240. As can be seen in FIG. 4, the baseboard 250 is located at the intersection of the wall 160 and the flooring material 240. The areas to be painted extend above the baseboard 250. The cover 200 has a first portion 210 with an integrated adhesive strip along the perimeter that is removably secured to the baseboard 250. A second portion 220 of the cover may cover the flooring material 240 and will absorb any dropped or splattered paint or other liquid. The cover 200 may also be used to protect door trim, light fixtures, coach lights, chandeliers, or any combination thereof. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the cover 200 showing a first portion 210 along one edge of the cover 200. The first portion 210 further comprises an integrated adhesive strip for removably securing the cover 200 to the baseboard 250. In addition, the cover 200 is adaptable to be installed over a wall beginning at the intersection of the ceiling and wall. Accordingly, the wall, which is the receiving surface for this application, is protected from overspray from painting the ceiling or an adjacent wall. Several of the covers 200 may be attached together using the adhesive portion 210 to form a larger area that may be protected.

Referring now to FIG. 6 shows a plan view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention for a differently configured arched window 620. The cover 600 includes an integrated adhesive strip 610 along a perimeter of cover 600 for removably securing the cover 600 over the arched window. The arched window 620 is the receiving surface for the cover 600.

As shown in FIG. 7, a home 700 typically includes a soffit at the edge of the roof. The cover 720 may be used to cover the underside of the soffit 710 to protect it from overspray from painting exterior walls 750. FIG. 8 is a plan view of the soffit cover 820 that includes an integrated adhesive strip 840 along two opposing edges and along one interposed edge. Accordingly, several covers 710 may be joined together to form the desired length, wherein an edge with the integrated adhesive strip 840 may be adhered to an adjacent cover along an edge absent the integrated adhesive strip of the adjacent cover.

Referring now to FIG. 9 shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention that is adjustable to fit multiple sized windows. For example, the cover 900 at its original size can fit a standard sized window. Perforations 925, 935 are disposed equidistant from the edges of the cover 900. Between a first edge of the cover 900 and the perforation 925 forms a first lateral strip 920 and between a second edge of the cover 900 and the perforation 935 forms a second lateral strip 940. Middle strip 930 is sized to fit over a smaller window when the first strip 920 and the second strip 940 are removed. As shown in FIG. 10, therefore, by removing either the first strip 920, the second strip 940, or any combination thereof, the cover 900 is reduced in size to a smaller cover 950. The locations of the perforations of the cover 900 are user defined depending on the particular application.

Referring to FIG. 11, a particular illustrative embodiment of a paint protection method is disclosed and generally designated 1000. The method includes providing a cover having a substrate layer, an overlying absorbent layer, and an integrated strip disposed on an outer perimeter surface of the absorbent layer and proximate to at least one edge of the cover, at 1002. At least one liquid impermeable seam is formed, at 1004, between the cover and a receiving surface by adhering the integrated adhesive strip to the receiving surface. In addition, at 1006 a perforation may be disposed on the cover that passes through the substrate layer and overlying absorbent layer, wherein the at least one perforation adapted to separate the cover into at least a first portion and a second portion. If the cover is not appropriately sized for the receiving surface after removing a first lateral strip to reduce the width of the cover, then at 1008, a pair of perforations may be provided equidistantly from a respective edge on the cover, wherein the pair of perforations passes through the substrate layer and overlying absorbent layer, at 1010. The method may further include, at 1012, removing a second lateral strip formed between a second edge of the cover and a second perforation of the pair of perforations, wherein removing the second lateral strip along the second perforation reduces the width of the cover even further. After the cover is configured appropriately for the receiving surface either in its original configuration, after removing the first lateral strip, second lateral strip, or any combination thereof, then paint may be applied to a designated paint surface when the cover is protecting the receiving surface. After application of the paint, the cover may be removed from the receiving surface and reused, at 1014.

The previous description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the disclosed embodiments. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope possible consistent with the principles and novel features as defined by the following claims. The commercial name of the invention is suggested to be “House Drops.”

Claims

1. A paint protection cover, the cover comprising:

a substrate layer;

an overlying absorbent layer; and

an integrated adhesive strip disposed on an outer perimeter surface of the absorbent layer and proximate to at least one edge of the cover, wherein the adhesive strip adapted to adhere to a receiving surface to form at least one paint impermeable seam between the cover and the receiving surface.

2. The paint protection cover of claim 1, wherein a shape of the cover is configured to adhere over a perimeter of a window when the receiving surface is the window.

3. The paint protection cover of claim 1, wherein a shape of the cover is configured to adhere over a baseboard when the receiving surface is the baseboard.

4. The paint protection cover of claim 1, wherein the integrated strip disposed on the outer perimeter surface of the absorbent layer is proximate to three edges of the cover; wherein one edge of the cover absent the integrated strip and adapted to contact an adhesive strip of an adjacent cover to form a contiguous and larger cover.

5. The paint protection cover of claim 1, the cover further comprising:

at least one perforation disposed on the cover that passes through the substrate layer and overlying absorbent layer; wherein the at least one perforation adapted to separate the cover into at least a first portion and a second portion.

6. The paint protection cover of claim 1, the cover further comprising:

a pair of perforations disposed equidistantly from a respective edge on the cover; wherein the pair of perforations pass through the substrate layer and overlying absorbent layer.

7. The paint protection cover of claim 6, the cover further comprising:

a removable first lateral strip formed between a first edge of the cover and a first perforation of the pair of perforations; wherein removing the first lateral strip along the first perforation reduces a width of the cover.

8. The paint protection cover of claim 7, further comprising:

a removable second lateral strip formed between a second edge of the cover and a second perforation of the pair of perforations; wherein removing the second lateral strip along the second perforation reduces the width of the cover.

9. The paint protection cover of claim 8, the cover further comprising:

a first integrated interior adhesive strip disposed on an outer perimeter surface of the absorbent layer and proximate to the first perforation; wherein the first integrated interior adhesive strip adapted to adhere to the receiving surface to form the paint impermeable seam between the cover and the receiving surface when the first lateral strip is removed.

10. The paint protection cover of claim 8, the cover further comprising:

a second integrated interior adhesive strip disposed on an outer perimeter surface of the absorbent layer and proximate to the second perforation; wherein the second integrated interior adhesive strip adapted to adhere to the receiving surface to form the paint impermeable seam between the cover and the receiving surface when the second lateral strip is removed.

11. A paint protection method, the method comprising:

providing a cover having a substrate layer, an overlying absorbent layer, and an integrated adhesive strip disposed on an outer perimeter surface of the absorbent layer and proximate to at least one edge of the cover; and

forming at least one paint impermeable seam between the cover and a receiving surface by adhering the adhesive strip to the receiving surface.

12. The paint protection method of claim 11, wherein the cover is configured to adhere over a window when the receiving surface is the window.

13. The paint protection method of claim 11, wherein a shape of the cover is configured to adhere over a baseboard when the receiving surface is the baseboard.

14. The paint protection method of claim 11, wherein the integrated strip disposed on the outer perimeter surface of the absorbent layer is proximate to three edges of the cover; wherein one edge of the cover absent the integrated strip and adapted to contact an adhesive strip of an adjacent cover to form a contiguous and larger cover.

15. The paint protection method of claim 11, the method further comprising:

providing a perforation disposed on the cover that passes through the substrate layer and overlying absorbent layer; wherein the at least one perforation adapted to separate the cover into at least a first portion and a second portion.

16. The paint protection method of claim 11, the method further comprising:

providing a pair of perforations disposed equidistantly from a respective edge on the cover; wherein the pair of perforations pass through the substrate layer and overlying absorbent layer.

17. The paint protection method of claim 16, the method further comprising:

providing a removable first lateral strip formed between a first edge of the cover and a first perforation of the pair of perforations; wherein removing the first lateral strip along the first perforation reduces a width of the cover.

18. The paint protection method of claim 17, the method further comprising:

providing a removable second lateral strip formed between a second edge of the cover and a second perforation of the pair of perforations; wherein removing the second lateral strip along the second perforation reduces the width of the cover.

19. The paint protection method of claim 17, the method further comprising:

providing a first integrated interior adhesive strip disposed on an outer perimeter surface of the absorbent layer and proximate to the first perforation; wherein the first integrated interior adhesive strip adapted to adhere to the receiving surface to form the paint impermeable seam between the cover and the receiving surface when the first lateral strip is removed.

20. The paint protection method of claim 19, the method further comprising:

providing a second integrated interior adhesive strip disposed on an outer perimeter surface of the absorbent layer and proximate to the second perforation; wherein the second integrated interior adhesive strip adapted to adhere to the receiving surface to form the paint impermeable seam between the cover and the receiving surface when the second lateral strip is removed.