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EP 0 365 510 B1 |
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EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
(45) |
Mention of the grant of the patent: |
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27.07.1994 Bulletin 1994/30 |
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Date of filing: 21.09.1989 |
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Use of a masking means and masking means
Verwendung einer Abdeckmaske und eine Maske
Utilisation d'un moyen de masquage et moyen de masquage
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Designated Contracting States: |
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AT BE CH DE ES FR GB GR IT LI LU NL SE |
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Priority: |
22.09.1988 BE 8801085
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Date of publication of application: |
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25.04.1990 Bulletin 1990/17 |
(73) |
Proprietor: Silvestre, Jean |
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B-4180 Comblain-Fairon (BE) |
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(72) |
Inventor: |
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- Silvestre, Jean
B-4180 Comblain-Fairon (BE)
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(74) |
Representative: Callewaert, Jean et al |
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GEVERS Patents,
Brussels Airport Business Park,
Holidaystraat 5 1831 Diegem 1831 Diegem (BE) |
(56) |
References cited: :
EP-A- 0 207 720 US-A- 3 536 569
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DE-A- 2 362 584 US-A- 4 714 633
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Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European
patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to
the European patent
granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall
not be deemed to
have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent
Convention).
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[0001] The invention relates to the masking of at least a part of a surface to be treated
wherein an element that is resistant to a surface treatment operation is removably
applied to said part of said surface and is removed after finishing said treatment.
The invention also relates to a masking means, for carrying out the masking.
[0002] The use of a masking tape, for masking purposes is described in US-A-3.536.569. This
known masking tape is for example applied in priming and painting of vehicle coachwork,
in particular automobile coachwork, or in refinishing work, sandblasting or other
surface treatments. In order to prevent paint or other substances to be applied on
a surface to be treated from penetrating or covering at least a part of the surface
to be treated, that part is masked by using a sheet-like masking tape that is resistant
to surface treatment operations. The masking tape masks the surface during the treatment
and is removed following the treatment.
[0003] A drawback of the known sheet-like masking tape is that its application not always
results in a satisfactory surface treatment. Turbulences can occur around openings,
grooves or edges in the surface to be treated, causing an uneven application of the
substance to be applied on that surface. Further, the dust left in the openings can
cause contamination of the treated surface. The achievment quality, especially in
the neighboorhoud of such openings, grooves or edges, is therefore not good enough.
[0004] An object of the invention is to mitigate the above mentioned drawbacks.
[0005] According to the present invention, use is made of an elongate compressible and bendable
foam cushion that is resistant to surface treatment for masking at least a part of
a surface to be treated, said cushion being removably applied on said part of said
surface to be treated and removed after finishing said treatment.
[0006] Due to the fact that the masking element is formed by an elongate compressible and
bendable cushion, a substantial improvement of the achievement quality is obtained
by an easy and quick application of such a cushion. The elongate shape of the cushion
renders the latter particularly suitable to be applied on a large variety of irregularities,
such as openings, grooves or edges, and offers the advantage that it can be applied
in one piece over the whole length of the irregularity to be masked, thus avoiding
connection parts. The compressible cushion adapts itself for filling or covering surface
irregularities such as openings or edges. Due to the fact that the cushion is bendable
along the surface to be treated, it provides an adequate separation between the surface
to be treated and the masked part. Thus the cushion prevents the formation of turbulences
and so the contamination by dust originating from the openings, and enables an adequate
masking of the irregularities.
[0007] The gist of the present invention is to use an elongate compressible cushion, instead
of a sheet-like masking tape or a panel shaped masking member, for masking a part
on a surface to be treated. Due to the fact that the cushion is compressible and bendable,
it takes substantially the exact shape of the part to be masked, thus providing an
excellent masking.
[0008] The invention also relates to a masking means which is made of a material that is
resistant to the surface treatment and adapted to be removably applied to said part
of said surface to be treated. Such a masking means is characterized in that it comprises
an elongate compressible and bendable foam cushion.
[0009] Masking means having the shape of a particular irregularity to be masked are known
and are for example described in the European patent application No. 0263637. However
the difference between a masking means according to the present invention and the
masking means according to the latter patent application is that the masking means
according to EP-A-0263 637 have a particular preformed shape which is beforehand completely
adapted to the irregularity and can thus only be used for masking an irregularity
of that particular shape. The masking means according to the present invention is
not beforehand adapted to a a particular irregularity since it has an elongate shape
but, due to its compressible and bendable character, adapts itself to the irregularity
to which it is applied. The masking means according to the present invention is thus
universally applicable to many kinds of surface parts, in particular irregularities
to be masked while the masking means according to EP-A-0263 637 is not universally
applicable.
[0010] One should not confuse a masking gasket with a conventional sealing gasket. Indeed,
in automobiles, such as for example described in DE-A-2362584, it is well known to
apply a sealing gasket on the inner lip of a door, hood or a trunk, in the frame of
the door or in the other openings which prevents inter alia water and noise from penetrating
inside the vehicle. Those sealing gaskets are applied by the manufacturer of the car
at a well-defined model. Those sealing gaskets are quasi-permanently fixed in place.
On the other hand, a masking means according to the invention only serves for masking,
as its name indicates, and not for permanent sealing purposes.
[0011] Nothing in DE-A-2362584 teaches the use of an elongate compressible and bendable
foam cushion for masking purposes since, in relation to automobile technique, only
the use as a sealing gasket of such a cushion is taught.
[0012] The use of a thermoplastic foam for masking purposes is described in the U.S. patent
4,714,633. That patent describes the use of an expanding and shrinking thermoplastic
foam member that contains a cavity. During the surface treatment operation or when
the member is heated afterwards, the member according to the U.S. patent will change
its form in order to be separated in a natural way from the article on which it has
been fixed. On the other hand, the masking means of the invention resists surface
treatment operation, i.e. its original configuration will not modify under influence
of the surface treatment, unlike the member described in the patent. Contrary to the
masking means according to that patent, the masking means according to the invention
need not include a cavity which enables a separation operation. The member according
to the cited U.S. patent is clearly used in surface treatment operations where its
extending and shrinking properties are essential, while the masking means according
to the invention is applied in surface treatment operations where its resistance to
the treatment plays an important role.
[0013] The invention thus provides a non-evident application of a masking means. Indeed,
the idea of using an elongate cushion is not evident with respect to the well known
use of sheet-like masking tapes. Several solutions such as pre-treatment of surfaces
(see for example the Japanese patent applications 85021787 or 87211929) have already
been tested out in order to reduce secondary effects due to the masking during surface
treatment operations. The use of a masking means according to the present invention
not only enables a substantial time saving but also a quality improvement without
use of pre-treatment operations or the like.
[0014] In a first preferred embodiment of the invention use is made of an absorbent cushion.
There is thus avoided that the material used by the surface treatment and applied
on the cushion could afterwards drip on the treated surface.
[0015] Preferably the cushion is applied to an irregularity situated on the body of a vehicle.
Vehicles show a large number of irregularities such as for example door, hood or hatch
openings, which can adequately be masked by using an elongated cushion according to
the present invention.
[0016] In a second preferred embodiment according to the invention use is made of a cushion
which is formed by applying to said part of said surface to be treated a polymerizing
foam comprising at least a reactive substance. This is for example applied for masking
parts which are difficult to access and thus provides an easy application of the foam
on the part to be masked.
[0017] In another preferred embodiment according to the invention, said cushion is applied
along a sealing gasket of a vehicle body, said cushion being repositionably adhered
to mask the sealing gasket. The sealing gasket generally contacts the surface and
has to be masked when the surface has to be treated. The elongated character of the
cushion renders the latter suitable to adequately mask the sealing gasket.
[0018] A first preferred embodiment of a masking means according to the invention is characterized
in that the cushion has substantially a same cross-section over its whole length.
This facilitates the manufacture of the cushion.
[0019] A second preferred embodiment of a masking means according to the invention is characterized
in that said cushion is provided with a pressure sensitive adhesive layer enabling
said removable application, said layer covering at least a portion of an outer surface
of said cushion. This facilitates the application of the cushion.
[0020] Preferably said cushion is hollow. This enables saving of material and also gives
more flexibility to the cushion.
[0021] Preferably said cushion is wound in a coil. This offers an adequate packing for the
masking means.
[0022] The invention will now be described in more detail by means of examples illustrated
in the drawing in which :
figure 1 illustrates a first preferred embodiment of a masking means according to
the invention ;
figure 2 illustrates a second preferred embodiment of a masking means according to
the invention ;
figure 3 illustrates the result of a method according to the invention when applied
on the open door of an automobile ;
figure 4 illustrates a cross-section of a masking means according to the invention
applied on an automobile ;
figure 5 illustrates an example of a device for applying a masking means according
to the invention ;
figure 6 illustrates a masking means according to the invention which masking means
is wound on a coil and packed in a box.
[0023] On the different figures corresponding elements are referred to with the same reference
numerals. It will be evident that the invention is not limited to the described embodiments
and that within the scope of the invention different embodiments are possible.
[0024] In the example shown in figure 1, the masking means according to the invention is
formed by a cushion 1 which is cylindrically shaped and elongated. The cushion is
a compressible cushion preferably made out of an absorbing material. The cushion 1
is at least partially provided with a pressure sensitive adhesive layer formed by
an self adhesive film. that adhesive layer enables the fixing of the cushion and also
the easy removing thereof after the surface treatment has been accomplished.
[0025] Preferably the cushion 1 is an elastic foam cushion which is made of a material resistant
to surface treatment operations. The foam thus for example resists high temperatures
of a spraying cabin for automobiles, solvents and humidity. The material used for
manufacturing the cushion is preferably a synthetic material such as for example polypropylene,
neoprene, polyester, polyurethane or acrylic. It will be evident that other materials,
elastic or not, synthetic or natural, which resist surface treatment operations can
also be used. The adhesive layer 2 is for example formed by an adhesive based on rubber,
resin, acrylic, or other suitable material, having an immediate tack. If necessary,
the cushion could be provided with a repositionable adhesive layer, which should be
resistant to solvents and changes in temperature.
[0026] The cushion can have different cross-sections, for example it can have a diameter
within a range of 5 to 50 mm, and is preferably presented rolled up. The cushion can
also have a rectangular cross-section, such as shown in figure 2 or a cross-section
of any other geometrical form, such as for example triangular or trapezoidal. Preferably
the cushion has substantially the same cross-section over its whole length.
[0027] This cushion can be either solid or hollow, such as for example illustrated in dotted
line in figure 1. A hollow cushion improves the elasticity of the masking means while
saving material.
[0028] The adhesive layer 2 can be covered by a liner 3, which is removed before the masking
means is applied. The adhesive layer can also be applied to the whole or to a substantial
portion of the exposed portion of the cushion, for example when a rectangular cushion
is used such as illustrated in figure 2, the adhesive layer can be applied to two
or more sides of the cushion thus enabling a better and/or easier application of the
cushion.
[0029] The adhesive substance is preferably self-sticking, thus forming with the foam a
self-sticking assemblage realized either by a pressure sensitive adhesive film which
at least partially covers the cushion, such as illustrated in figures 1 and 2, or
by manufacturing a cushion from a foam which itself is tacky. In the latter case,
the foam can be completely covered by a protection liner. A foam which is provided
with a pressure sensitive adhesive is particularly advantageous for appliations on
vehicle body reparing. Indeed, the surface to be masked can sometimes impose multiple
contorsions upon the cushion. When the foam is provided with an adhesive layer, one
can reliably obtain a satisfactory adhesion, notwithstanding the geometric form of
the irregularity to be masked.
[0030] However the cushion 1 can also be fixed on the irregularity which has to be masked
by other means, which are not necessarily self-sticking. For example it is possible
to use a cushion which is not self-sticking and to first spray an adhesive on the
surface on which the cushion has to be applied, and thereafter stick the cushion on
the applied adhesive.
[0031] In another embodiment of the masking method, the elastic foam cushion is formed by
applying on the surface, which has to be masked, a polymerising foam made from a suitable
reactive substance or substances. That reactive substance is for example stored in
an aerosol container and is sprayed on the surface to be masked. This enables a masking
of places which are otherwise difficult to access for applying thereon a masking cushion.
[0032] The figures 3 and 4 illustrate the masking according to the invention as applied
to the door of an automobile. Suppose that the external surface 11 of a door 4 has
to be painted by spraying. In order to prevent paint from penetrating into a crevice
or opening between the door and the surrounding parts of the coachwork and adhering
to the sealing gasket, or weatherstrip 12, it is necessary to mask the opening. therefore
the cushion 1 according to the invention is applied for example by means of its adhesive
layer, on the border of the lip of the door 4, of the side 5 of the door, and on all
the other portions which represent an irregularity with respect to the surface of
the door such as the border lines of the windows, bottom of the car body, the latches
of the doors and other surrounding surfaces, that do not need to be treated. By closing
the door, a pressure will be applied to the cushion. Due to the fact that the cushion
is compressible, it will be lightly compressed thereby adapting itself to the portion
or the whole irregularity on which it is applied and sealing the opening or at least
partially filling or bridging the surface irregularity. When the paint is applied
to the door, the cushion will, on the one hand, prevent the paint from penetrating
in the opening by absorbing that paint and, on the other hand, due to the fact that
the cushion obstructs the opening or fills at least partially the irregularity, the
effects due to turbulences in and around the openings are practically eliminated and
will not affect the achievement of a satisfactory surface treatment. Also due to the
fact that the openings are obstructed, residues of dust, humidity and others, which
remain in the openings will remain enclosed therein and will no longer be affected
by the pressure of compressed air and will thus no longer affect the achievement of
a satisfactory surface treatment.
[0033] When the surface treatment operation is finished, the cushion is removed from the
parts on which it has been applied. The substances used for the surface treatment
can not reach and thus will not affect the protected surface irregularities. This
is particularly the case when using an absorbing material for the cushion and which
also absorbs any liquid substances used for the surface treatment. Due to the absorption
capacity of the cushion, traces along the border forming the transition between the
cushion which has just been removed and the treated surface can no longer be seen.
Indeed, the substance used for the surface treatment and which is applied either on
the cushion or on the border between the cushion and the treated surface is now absorbed
by the cushion.
[0034] The cushion can also be applied on portions of the surface which are not damaged,
or which are made from a different material as the one used for the door to be treated,
such as for example the brightwork surrounding the windows.
[0035] The method according to the invention is very appropriate for application on modern
vehicles having a low Cx value (in the order of 0.30 ; Cx = air penetration coefficient).
Indeed for aerodynamical reasons some sealing gaskets are applied very close to the
openings. Due to its compressibility and elasticity the cushion according to the invention
allows simultaneously masking of the sealing gaskets and the opening which remains
between the sealing gaskets and the coachwork.
[0036] As shown in the figures 1 and 2 the cushion is an elongated cushion. Such an elongated
cushion is particularly suitable to be applied on an elongated irregularity such as
for example a crevise between a door, a hood or a hatch and the vehicle body. Since
the cushion is elongated it can be applied practically in one piece over the whole
length of the elongated irregularity, thus avoiding openings between cushion parts
which could cause turbulances during the surface treatment or penetration of paint
and the like between those cushion parts. Further due to the fact that the cushion
is compressible and elastic it can easily be bent in all kind of corners shown by
the irregularity to be masked, which offers a continuous masking. Also due to the
fact that the cushion is made of elastic foam its thickness can easily be adapted
to the depth of the irregularity by simply stretching or compressing in length the
elongated cushion.
[0037] Another advantage of the cushion according to the invention is that it is repositionable
which offers the possibility to reposition the cushion when it has incorrectly be
applied on the irregularity to be masked.
[0038] The cushion can be directly fixed to the metal body of the car or be superposed on
the sealing gasket. Indeed, the adhesive characteristics of the masking gasket according
to the invention allows the cushion to be applied as well on metal, rubber, as to
any other materials, such as for example plastics. It is also possible to remove first
the sealing gasket of the vehicle and then to mask the opening thus formed using a
cushion according to the invention.
[0039] Due to the easy application and the technical characteristics of the cushion a substantial
time saving of nearly two thirds of the time required for the conventional masking
of a vehicle door opening using the masking tape method can be gained and thus a substantial
economy realized.
[0040] The masking means according to the invention can be applied either by hand or by
means of a device such as shown in figure 5. The device comprises a drum or core on
which the cushion is wrapped. The device is provided with an handle 7 and with three
rollers 8, 9 and 10. The cushion 1 passes between the rollers 8 and 9. By pressing
the roller 8 against the surface to be masked, the rolling of the latter will engage
the roller 9 which on its turn will cause the cushion to unwind from the drum 6. When
the cushion comprises a protective liner covering the adhesive substance, that protective
liner 3 passes between the rollers 9 and 10. The engagement of the rollers 9 and 10
will cause the detachement and the removal of the protection liner when the cushion
is applied on the surface to be masked.
[0041] The device can also be provided with a further roller on which the protective liner
is rolled after it has been remoed from the cushuin. The device enables an easy and
quick application of the cushion on the surface to be masked.
[0042] Figure 6 illustrates a packing box 14 comprising a masking means according to the
invention. The packing box 14 is provided with a central opening 16 through which
the cushion is pulled out. The cushion is wound on a coil 15 in the same fashion as
electrical wire often is marketed. This way of packing offers the advantage that the
cushion is suitably protected when it is inside the box, that it remains coiled and
that it can easily be pulled out of the box which during the application of the masking
means can simply rest on the floor.
[0043] It is also possible to fix the device on a robot arm in which the trajectory along
which the cushion has to ba applied on the irregularity to be masked is loaded into
the arm's memory.
[0044] It will be clear that the invention is not only applicable on automobiles but can
also be applied on all kind of surface treatment operations such as for example the
painting of the frame of a window of a home or cleaning at high pressure.
1. Use of an elongate compressible and bendable foam cushion that is resistant to surface
treatment for masking at least a part of a surface to be treated, said cushion being
removably applied on said part of said surface to be treated and removed after finishing
said treatment.
2. A use as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that as said cushion an absorbent cushion
is used.
3. A use as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said cushion is formed by applying
to said part of said surface to be treated a polymerizing foam comprising at least
a reactive substance.
4. A use as claimed in one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said cushion is
applied to said part which forms an irregularity situated on the body of a vehicle.
5. A use as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that said cushion is applied along and
in an opening between a door, a hood or a hatch and the vehicle body.
6. A use as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that said cushion is lightly compressed
between said door, hood or hatch and said vehicle body when spray paint is applied
as surface treatment.
7. A use as claimed in one of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said cushion is
applied along a sealing gasket of a vehicle body, said cushion being repositionably
adhered to mask the sealing gasket.
8. A use as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that said cushion is applied to the
irregularity in such a manner as to at least bridge the irregularity.
9. A use as claimed in one of the claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said cushion is
repositionably adhered to said part of said surface to be treated.
10. A masking means for masking at least a part of a surface to be treated, wherein said
masking means is made of a material that is resistant to the surface treatment and
adapted to be removably applied to said part of said surface to be treated, characterized
in that said masking means comprises an elongate compressible and bendable foam cushion.
11. A masking means as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the cushion has substantially
the same cross-section over its whole length.
12. A masking means as claimed in claim 10 or 11, characterized in that said cushion is
provided with a pressure sensitive adhesive layer enabling said removable application,
said layer covering at least a portion of an outer surface of said cushion.
13. A masking means as claimed in any one of the claims 10 to 12, characterized in that
said cushion is hollow.
14. A masking means as claimed in any one of the claims 10 to 13, characterized in that
said cushion is substantially cylindrically shaped.
15. A masking means as claimed in claim 10 or 11, characterized in that said foam itself
is tacky.
16. A masking means as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that at least said adhesive
layer is provided with a protection liner.
17. A masking means as claimed in any one of the claims 10 to 16, characterized in that
said cushion is wound around a drum.
18. A masking means as claimed in any one of the claims 10 to 17, characterized in that
said cushion is formed from an absorbent material.
1. Verwendung eines länglichen kompressiblen und biegbaren Schaumpolsters, das Flächenbehandlungen
widersteht, zum Abdecken mindestens eines Teils einer zu behandelnden Fläche, wobei
das Polster lösbar auf dem Teil der zu behandelnden Fläche aufgebracht und nach Beenden
der Behandlung entfernt wird.
2. Verwendung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß als das Polster ein absorbierendes
Polster verwendet wird.
3. Verwendung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Polster durch Aufbringen
eines polymerisierenden Schaums mit mindestens einer reaktionsfähigen Substanz auf
den Teil der zu behandelnden Fläche gebildet wird.
4. Verwendung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Polster
auf den Teil aufgebracht wird, der eine Unregelmäßigkeit auf der Karosserie eines
Fahrzeugs bildet
5. Verwendung nach Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Polster entlang und in
einer Öffnung zwischen einer Tür, einer Haube oder einer Klappe und der Fahrzeugkarosserie
aufgebracht wird.
6. Verwendung nach Anspruch 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Polster leicht zwischen
der Tür, der Haube oder der Klappe und der Fahrzeugkarosserie komprimiert wird, wenn
Sprühfarbe als Flächenbehandlung aufgebracht wird.
7. Verwendung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Polster
entlang einer Dichtungseinrichtung einer Fahrzeugkarosserie aufgebracht wird, wobei
das Polster wiederaufbringbar haftet, um die Dichtungseinrichtung abzudecken.
8. Verwendung nach Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Polster so an die Unregelmäßigkeit
angebracht wird, daß es mindestens die Unregelmäßigkeit überbrückt.
9. Verwendung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Polster
wiederaufbringbar an dem Teil der zu behandelnden Fläche haftend angebracht wird.
10. Abdeckmittel zum Abdecken mindestens eines Teils einer zu behandelnden Fläche, wobei
das Abdeckmittel aus einem Material hergestellt ist, das der Flächenbehandlung widersteht,
und angepaßt ist, lösbar auf dem Teil der zu behandelnden Fläche aufgebracht zu werden,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Abdeckmittel ein längliches kompressibles und biegbares
Schaumpolster aufweist.
11. Abdeckmittel nach Anspruch 10, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Polster über seine
ganze Länge im wesentlichen den gleichen Querschnitt aufweist.
12. Abdeckmittel nach Anspruch 10 oder 11, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Polster mit
einer das lösbare Aufbringen ermöglichenden druckempfindlichen Haftschicht versehen
ist, wobei die Schicht mindestens einen Teil einer Außenfläche des Polsters bedeckt.
13. Abdeckmittel nach einem der Ansprüche 10 bis 12, dadurch gekennzeichnet, das das Polster
hohl ist.
14. Abdeckmittel nach einem der Ansprüche 10 bis 13, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Polster
im wesentlichen zylinderförmig ist.
15. Abdeckmittel nach Anspruch 10 oder 11, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Schaum selbsthaftend
ist.
16. Abdeckmittel nach Anspruch 12, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß mindestens die Haftschicht
mit einer Schutzschicht versehen ist.
17. Abdeckmittel nach einem der Ansprüche 10 bis 16, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Polster
um eine Trommel gewickelt ist.
18. Abdeckmittel nach einem der Ansprüche 10 bis 17, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Polster
von einem absorbierenden Material gebildet wird.
1. Utilisation d'un bourrelet de matériau cellulaire, allongé, compressible, flexible,
qui est résistant à un traitement de surface, pour masquer au moins une partie d'une
surface à traiter, le bourrelet étant appliqué de façon détachable sur la partie de
la surface à traiter et étant détaché après avoir terminé le traitement.
2. Utilisation suivant la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que pour le bourrelet est
utilisé un bourrelet absorbant.
3. Utilisation suivant la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que le bourrelet est formé
en appliquant sur la partie de la surface à traiter un matériau cellulaire qui polymérise
et qui comprend au moins une substance réactive.
4. Utilisation suivant l'une des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisée en ce que le bourrelet
est appliqué sur la partie qui forme une inégalité située sur la carrosserie d'un
véhicule.
5. Utilisation suivant la revendication 4, caractérisée en ce que le bourrelet est appliqué
le long de et dans une ouverture entre une porte, un capot ou un hayon de la carrosserie
de véhicule.
6. Utilisation suivant la revendication 5, caractérisée en ce que le bourrelet est légèrement
comprimé entre la porte, le capot ou le hayon et la carrosserie du véhicule lorsqu'une
peinture pulvérisée est appliquée en tant que traitement de surface.
7. Utilisation suivant l'une des revendications 1 à 6, caractérisée en ce que le bourrelet
est appliqué le long d'un joint d'étanchéité d'une carrosserie de véhicule, le bourrelet
étant collé, de façon à pouvoir être repositionné, pour masquer le joint d'étanchéité.
8. Utilisation suivant la revendication 4, caractérisée en ce que le bourrelet est appliqué
sur l'inégalité de manière à au moins combler l'inégalité.
9. Utilisation suivant l'une des revendications 1 à 8, caractérisée en ce que le bourrelet
est collé, de façon à pouvoir être repositionné, sur la partie de la surface à traiter.
10. Moyens de masquage pour masquer au moins une partie d'une surface à traiter, les moyens
de masquage étant réalisés dans un matériau qui est résistant au traitement de surfaces
et étant adapté pour être appliqué de façon détachable à la partie de la surface à
traiter, caractérisés en ce que les moyens de masquage comprennent un bourrelet de
matériau cellulaire, allongé, compressible et flexible.
11. Moyens de masquage suivant la revendication 10, caractérisés en ce que le bourrelet
présente sensiblement la même section transversale sur toute sa longueur.
12. Moyens de masquage suivant la revendication 10 ou 11, caractérisés en ce que le bourrelet
est muni d'une couche d'adhésif autocollant qui permet une application de manière
détachable, cette couche couvrant au moins une partie d'une surface externe du bourrelet.
13. Moyens de masquage suivant l'une quelconque des revendications 10 à 12, caractérisés
en ce que le bourrelet est creux.
14. Moyens de masquage suivant l'une quelconque des revendications 10 à 13, caractérisés
en ce que le bourrelet a une forme sensiblement cylindrique.
15. Moyens de masquage suivant la revendication 10 ou 11, caractérisés en ce que le matériau
cellulaire lui-même est adhésif.
16. Moyens de masquage suivant la revendication 12, caractérisés en ce qu'au moins la
couche adhésive est munie d'un revêtement de protection.
17. Moyens de masquage suivant l'une quelconque des revendications 10 à 16, caractérisés
en ce que le bourrelet est enroulé sur un tambour.
18. Moyens de masquage suivant l'une quelconque des revendications 10 à 17, caractérisés
en ce que le bourrelet est façonné à partir d'un matériau absorbant.