PROTECTIVE COVER SYSTEM

Abstract

A covering system in which a cover constructed of a flexible sheet material may be placed on the surface of a floor between a door frame to a room. A door frame cover having an edge that is configured to conform with the shape of the door frame proximate to the floor. The door frame cover also includes a fastener or other securing mechanism to attach the door frame cover to the cover such that the edge that is configured to conform to the shape of the door frame contacts the door frame and covers the surface of the floor left uncovered by the cover by the door frame. This cover may be used in conjunction with another cover placed within the room to provide a continuous cover for the surface within the room and within the door frame.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Technical Field

[0002] The present invention relates generally to a protective cover and in particular to a protective cover system used for protecting surfaces from chemical products. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus for protecting surfaces during application of chemicals, such as paint.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Cover cloths, including tarpaulins, drop cloths, blankets, sheets, wrapping, bubble wrap, and the like, have many uses both inside and outside of various types of structures. Some of these cover cloths are used for covering objects during painting or to protect various items from adverse weather conditions. In particular, cover cloths used for painting take time to arrange and set up to appropriately protect the surface of the floor. In particular, this surface may take the form of carpet, wood, tile, or other floor covering, which is to be protected during painting of the walls and trim and ceiling of a room. One difficulty in prepping a room for painting is ensuring that the surface of the floor around the doorways or doorjambs is sufficiently protected. For the exterior, is also difficult to protect shingles, bushes, trees, shrubs, plants, flowers, cars, and boats. Due to the irregular shape of doorjambs, properly covering the surfaces at the doorjambs increases the amount of time needed to prepare the room for painting.

[0005] Therefore, it would be advantageous to have and improved method and apparatus for covering the surface around a doorway, hall, room, closet, etc.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention provides a covering system in which a cover constructed of a flexible sheet material may be placed on the surface of a floor or any surface or object between a door frame to a room. A door frame cover having an edge that is configured to conform with the shape of the door frame proximate to the floor. The door frame cover also includes a fastener or other securing mechanism to attach the door frame cover to the cover such that the edge that is configured to conform to the shape of the door frame contacts the door frame and covers the surface of the floor left uncovered by the cover by the door frame. This cover may be used in conjunction with another cover placed within the room to provide a continuous cover for the surface within the room and within the door frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0008] FIG. 1 is an illustration of a protective cover system depicted in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0009] FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a door frame cover depicted in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0010] FIG. 3 is a cross section view of a door frame cover depicted in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0011] FIGS. 4A-4D are illustrations of covers depicted in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0012] FIG. 5 is a partial cross section of a cover depicted in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

[0013] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a cover depicted in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] With reference now to the figures, and in particular with reference to FIG. 1, an illustration of a protective cover system is depicted in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this example, a room 100 is illustrated with walls 102, 104, and 106. Additionally, room 100 includes a doorjamb 108 also referred to as a “door frame”. Surface 110 in room 100 is covered with a cover 112. Cover 112 in this example is a protective cover that may be formed of any size and any desired material for use in covering a surface, such as surface 110 in room 100. For example, cover 112 may be made from cloth of woven natural or synthetic fibers. Cover 112 may also be made of a continuous sheet material, such as a synthetic plastic film or the like. Further, cover 112 may be made of a metal covered sheet material, such as aluminum foil on canvas or the like. In other words, cover 112 may be made of any desired flexible cloth-like material used for covering any object. This sheet like material for cover 112 may be made in any size and generally is made rectangular in the case of manufacture and use. These shapes are particular useful in covering rooms that are to be painted or chemically treated when the surface of the floor is to be protected from the chemicals, debris, or particles.

[0015] In this illustration, another cover 114 is present to cover surface 110 of floor in room 100 on the other side of doorjamb 108. A gap 116 is present between cover 112 and cover 114. Another cover 118 is employed to cover gap 116. These covers are placed on surface 110 to provide a continuous covering over surface 110 within room 100 and for surface 110 within door jam 108. Further, cover 118 also includes a door frame cover 120. This apparatus is configured to fit around the contour of door frame 108. Door frame cover 120 would be attached to cover 118 on opposing sides to cover surface 110 in the doorway in which door frame 108 is located. In this example cover 118 includes a weighted edge 122 in which a portion of cover 118 has been folded over to create a channel or cavity. A more detailed illustration of this feature is found in FIG. 5 below.

[0016] With reference now to FIG. 2, an isometric view of a door frame cover is depicted in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Door frame cover 200 is a more detailed illustration of door frame cover 120 in FIG. 1. As can be seen in FIG. 2, door frame cover 200 includes a contoured edge 202, which is configured to fit to or mate with a door frame, such as door frame 108. Door frame cover 120 is in the form of a drooping I structure when viewed in cross section. As can be seen in FIG. 3, a cross section view of door frame cover 200 taken along lines 3-3 in FIG. 2 is shown. The drooping I structure of door frame cover 200 is made up of a planer member 204 with a perpendicular member 206 extending from planer member 204. Further, at one end of planer member 206, an angled member 208 is formed such that channel 210 and channel 212 are created. In these examples, the various members forming the drooping I structure of door frame cover 200 are made from plastic. Of course, other materials may be used in forming door frame cover 200. The materials may range from rigid materials to flexible materials. Angled member 208 is also called an “adjustable elbow” and may be adjusted to different angles in the depicted examples. Angled member 208 aids in reducing over spray. Channels 210 and 212 function to capture paint spray or other chemicals. These channels aid in keeping the passage way between rooms cleaner. In the depicted examples, these members are formed in a single piece. These members are flexible in the depicted examples. Alternatively, the members may be made such that they are rigid or inflexible.

[0017] Further, door frame cover 200 also includes an attachment mechanism 214 that is used to attach door frame cover 200 to cover. In the depicted example, this attachment mechanism is a fastener, such as Velcro brand fastener. Velcro is a registered trademark of Velcro Industries B.V. In addition, a flexible material 216 is attached to the bottom side of member 204 of door frame cover 200. This flexible material is foam in the depicted examples, but could be made of other flexible materials, such as, for example rubber. This flexible material in this example provides a surface 218 that may touch the surface of the door frame such as door frame 108 in FIG. 1. Specifically, flexible material 216 provides door frame cover 200 a snug fit with a door frame. Although the depicted example uses a drooping I frame configuration, other configurations may be used depending on the implementation. With reference now to FIGS. 4A-4D, illustrations of covers are depicted in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As can be seen, covers 400-406 in FIGS. 4A-4D have different widths. In particular, cover 400 has a width W1, cover 402 has a width W2, cover 404 has a width W3, and cover 406 has a width W4. In these examples, the covers all have the same height H. The varying widths are used to adjust for different door frame widths. As a result, a different cover may be selected from covers 400-406 depending on the width of the door frame. Cover 400 contains an attachment mechanism 408 and an attachment mechanism 410. Cover 402 includes an attachment mechanism 412 and an attachment mechanism 414. Cover 404 includes an attachment mechanism 416 and an attachment mechanism 418. Similarly, cover 406 contains an attachment mechanism 420 and an attachment mechanism 422. The attachment mechanism in these covers is used to provide a mechanism to attach and secure a door frame cover. In the depicted example, these attachment mechanisms are made of Velcro brand fasteners. Attachment mechanism 214 in door frame cover 200 would be attached to a cover, such as cover 400 by placing attachment mechanism 214 in contact with attachment mechanism 410 or 408 for cover 400. Of course, other types of attachment mechanisms may be used to secure a door frame cover to a cover. With reference now to FIG. 5, a partial cross section of a cover is depicted in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Cover 500 in this example, includes a material 502 in which edge 504 is folded back upon material 502 to form a channel 506 within cover 500. Stitching 508 may be used in forming channel 506. The ends may be closed off or channel 506 may be configured such that the channel runs along the entire perimeter of a cover, such as cover 400 in FIG. 4A . In other implementations, channel 506 may be located only on some edges of a protective cover, such as opposing edges. After the channel has been created, various weighting materials 510 may be placed within channel 506. For example, these materials may include, free sand, shot, or other particular material. Alternatively, weighting material 510 may be encompassed in a bag or other enclosure for placement into channel 510. These bags may be slid into the channel if the channels are not closed off at the ends or do not run the entire perimeter of the cover. Alternatively, stitching 508 may be a temporary securing mechanism in which edge 504 may be pulled away from to allow insertion of a bag into the channel. In such a case, the securing mechanism may be, for example, Velcro brand fastener, a zipper, zip lock, or buttoning mechanism. Furthermore, depending on the composition of the cover and the construction of the channels, water may also be placed within the channels to provide a weighting material. As can be seen in this example, cover 500 also includes an attachment mechanism 512.

[0018] With reference now to FIG. 6, a diagram illustrating a cover is depicted in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this example, cover 600 includes a number of different widths, which may conform to widths W1-W4 in FIGS. 4A-4D. Of course, other widths also may be used depending on the particular implementation. In this case, a single cover 600 may be used with a number of different door frame widths. Cover 600 in this example includes attachment mechanisms 602-618. Cover 600 is configured such that one pair of these attachment mechanisms, such as attachment mechanism 602 and 604 would be located approximate to the doorjamb such that a door frame cover, such as door frame cover 200, may be attached or fastened to cover 600 to provide a cover for the surface near the doorjamb.

[0019] Thus, the mechanism of the present invention provides a method and apparatus for covering the surface of an object, such as a floor in the manner such that the floor is protected from chemicals being applied to the ceiling or walls of a structure such as a room.

[0020] The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, although the fasteners used to attach the door frame cover to a cover in the depicted examples was a Velcro brand fastener, other types of fastening mechanism may be used to attach the door frame cover to the cover. The only requirement is that the door frame cover can be attached to the cover securely for actual use when protecting a surface. Although the covers depicted in the examples are generally rectangular or have rectangular edges, covers of any shape desired, such as, for example, a circle, a trapezoid, or some other irregular shape may be used. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention the practical application and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. For example, the door frame cover has been illustrated with different members forming channels. Other configurations of door frame covers may be used. For example, the angled member may be optional or some other structure may be used to capture chemical spray. Also, the door frame cover may be constructed from various materials, rigid or flexible, such as, for example, plastic, rubber, or steel. The door frame cover functions to conform to a door frame to protect the surface during chemical treatment, such as, for example, painting. While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An cover system comprising:

a cover constructed of a flexible sheet material;

a door frame cover; and

a fastening mechanism, wherein the fastening mechanism allows the door frame cover to be secured to the cover.

2. The cover system of

claim 1, wherein the cover has a width sized to fit between a door frame.

3. The cover system of

claim 1, wherein the cover has a plurality of widths to allow the cover to fit between door frames having different widths.

4. The cover system of

claim 1, wherein the cover includes opposite edges and a flexible weight means arranged continuously along the opposite edges.

5. The cover system of

claim 1, wherein the cover includes opposite edges and wherein continuous channels are located at the opposite edges and configured to hold a material to provide weight to the opposite edges.

6. The cover system of

claim 5, wherein the material is water.

7. The cover system of

claim 5, wherein the material is a loose particulate material.

8. The cover system of

claim 7, wherein the material is sand.

9. The cover system of

claim 4 further comprising:

securing means for securing the weight means to the cover.

10. The cover system of

claim 2, wherein the cover is a first cover and further comprising:

a second cover configured for covering a surface of a room associated with the door frame, wherein the first cover, the second cover, and the door frame cover may be placed to provide a continuous cover for the surface of the room and a surface within the door frame.

11. The cover system

claim 1, wherein the cover is a drop cloth.

12. The cover system of

claim 1, wherein the door frame cover is constructed from plastic.

13. The cover system of

claim 1, wherein the door frame cover is constructed from rubber.

14. An apparatus comprising:

an elongate member having a first surface, a second surface, and an edge, wherein the edge is configured to conform to a door frame; and

a fastening mechanism located on the second surface of the elongate member, wherein the fastening mechanism is configured to secure the apparatus to a cover.

15. The apparatus of

claim 14, wherein the edge includes a flexible material in which the flexible material provides a secure fit to the door frame.

16. The apparatus of

claim 15, wherein the elongate member is formed from a plastic.

17. A method for covering a room having a door frame, the method comprising:

placing a first cover within the room;

placing a second cover within the door frame, wherein the second cover has opposing edges, a first edge and a second edge, adjacent to sides of the door frame; and

placing a first door frame cover over the first edge and a second door frame cover on the second edge of the second cover, wherein the first cover, the second cover, first door frame cover, and the second door frame cover for a continuous cover.