BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The field of invention is masking discs, more particularly masking discs suitable
for use with paint line markers.
[0002] Paint line markers are used to paint lines on car parks, warehouse flooring, playgrounds,
sports grounds, and the like. A typical paint line marker has a frame with ground
engaging wheels at one end and a handle at the other. A detachable spray paint can
mounted to the frame sprays paint between the wheels to paint a line on the ground.
[0003] It is desirable for the paint line marker to spray a crisp line, that is, a line
with sharp well defined edges. A spray paint can, however, expels paint from the nozzle
with paint concentrated in the center of the spray, and as the distance from the spray
center increases, the paint concentration diminishes, resulting in a poorly defined
paint edge.
[0004] One method of providing a crisp paint line is to maintain the paint spray within
a predetermined area by masking the paint spray with discs. The discs are spaced on
opposing sides of the paint spray to block over spray from reaching the surface to
foul the paint line. However, when the spray paint makes contact with the discs the
paint begins to drip from the discs onto the surface resulting in a fouled line. Therefore,
the masking discs must be periodically cleaned or replaced in order to continue marking
the lines.
[0005] To extend the use of the masking discs, wells or cavities are formed on the disc
face facing the paint spray to catch and hold the paint, thus increasing the amount
of paint the disc can hold prior to dripping. It is still desirable, however, to further
extend the useful life of a disc before cleaning or replacement due to paint accumulation
is required.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention provides a paint line marker with an elongated frame with a
distal end, and a pair of spaced surface engaging wheels mounted to the frame distal
end. A pair of circular masking discs having opposing inwardly directed faces are
interposed between the wheels, and have an absorbent pad mounted to each of the masking
disc inwardly directed faces. A can of spray paint is mounted to the frame and sprays
paint between the masking discs to form a paint line on the surface. The masking disc
absorbent pads absorb paint over spray to provide a crisp paint line on the surface.
[0007] A general objective of the invention is to provide a paint line marker which sprays
a crisp paint line on a surface. This objective is accomplished by providing a paint
line marker with masking discs which absorb paint over spray and prevent it from dripping
onto the surface.
[0008] Another objective of the invention is to provide a masking disc for masking paint
over spray from a paint line marker with an improved useful life. This objective is
accomplished by providing a masking disc with an absorbent pad to absorb the paint
over spray.
[0009] The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from
the following description. In the description, reference is made to the accompanying
drawings which form a part hereof, and in which there is shown by way of illustration
a preferred embodiment of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010]
Fig. 1 is a side view of a paint line marker incorporating the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a front view of the paint line marker of Fig. 1 with the rear wheels and
bracket removed;
Fig. 3 is a side view of the masking disc of Fig. 1; and
Fig. 4 is a front view of the masking disc of Fig. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0011] Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, an aerosol paint line marker 10 has an elongated frame
12 with a handle 14 at a proximal end 16 and surface engaging wheels 18 at a distal
end 20. An aerosol spray paint can 22 detachably mounted to the frame 12 sprays paint
between a pair of masking discs 24 interposed between the wheels to form a crisp paint
line on the surface 25.
[0012] The spray paint can 22 is known in the art, and has a cylindrical body 26 with a
central axis 28. Paint sprays from a nozzle 30 disposed at a downwardly facing end
of the body 26 upon actuation of a button (not shown) disposed at the opposing body
end. The nozzle 30 and button are aligned with the central axis 28.
[0013] The frame 12 is preferably an elongated square tube with a lever 32 pivotally mounted
thereon proximal the handle 14. Although a square tube is preferred, the frame 12
may be formed from any elongated shape, such as a round tube or molded shape, without
departing from the scope of the present invention. Pulling the lever 32 toward the
frame handle 14 displaces a rod 34 downwardly to actuate the spray paint can button.
Two brackets 36 mounted to the frame guide the rod to maintain rod alignment between
the lever 32 and a spray can button. A spring 38 disposed between one of the brackets
36 and the lever 32 biases the lever 32 in a non-spray position.
[0014] A can clip 40 and can nozzle retainer 42 releasably mount the can 22 to the frame
12. The can clip 40 has a pair of opposing arcuate arms 41 formed from a thin metal
strip attached to the frame 12. The arms 41 springingly wrap around the can body 26
to hold it tightly to the frame 12. The can nozzle retainer 42 is flat plate mounted
to and extending from the frame 12 with a circular opening 44 formed therein for receiving
the spray can nozzle 30. The nozzle 30 extends through the opening 44 and the flat
plate supports the can body 26.
[0015] Two rotatable front wheels 18 are disposed at the frame distal end 20 and engage
the surface 25 being painted. The wheels 18 are mounted to the frame 12 with a U-shaped
bracket 46 which is mounted to the frame distal end 20, using bolts, screws, rivets,
or the like. The U-shaped bracket 46 has a pair of opposing legs 48 which extend away
from the frame 12 and straddle the paint spray can central axis 28. Each leg 48 has
an inner side 50 facing the opposing leg 48, and an outer side 52. Each wheel 18 is
adjacent a leg outer side 52 and is mounted to a spindle 54 which extends through
an aperture formed in the leg 48 and a bushing 56 mounted to the leg inner side 50.
[0016] The masking discs 24 are mounted to the inner ends of each spindle 54 to mask the
paint sprayed from the paint can nozzle 30, and provide a paint line on the surface
25 with sharp edges. Each disc 24 is preferably formed from a molded plastic material,
such as polypropylene, and has an inwardly directed front face 58 which is exposed
to the sprayed paint. A disc rear face 59 has a hub 61 for mounting to the spindle
54. A flange 60 formed on the disc perimeter surrounds the disc front face 58 to form
a cavity which catches excess paint sprayed wider than the desired paint line width.
[0017] Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, an absorbent pad 62 is mounted to the inwardly directed
disc face 58 in the cavity to absorb the paint over spray. The pad 62 is formed from
an absorbent material and is mounted to the disc 24 using methods known in the art,
such as ultrasonic welding, adhesives, or the like. Preferably, the absorbent pad
62 is formed from a woven fabric which is cut to fit in the cavity formed by the flange
60, and has a thickness less than the cavity depth to allow the flange 60 to define
the paint line sharp edge. Most preferably, the pad 62 is ultrasonically welded to
the plastic disc 24 for maximum adhesion and ease of manufacture. Advantageously,
the pad 62 extends the useful life of the disc by preventing all of the paint over
spray from accumulating on the flange 60 and dripping onto the surface 25 to foul
the sprayed line.
[0018] Referring back to Fig. 1, a pair of surface engaging rear wheels 64 stabilize the
paint line marker 10 during operation. The rear wheels 64 are rotatably mounted to
the frame 12 with a rearwardly extending bracket 66, and are opposingly spaced outwardly
of the front wheels 18 to avoid marring the freshly painted line. The bracket 66 length
is adapted such that the front and rear wheels 18, 64 engage the surface 25 when the
frame 12 is at an angle to facilitate the user urging the paint line marker 10 forward
while grasping the handle 14 and lever 32.
[0019] During use, the paint can 22 sprays paint between the masking discs 24 as the paint
line marker 10 is urged forward by a user. The masking discs 24 collect over spray
from the paint can 22 to provide a crisp line. The absorbent pads 62 delay the over
spray on the masking discs 24 from accumulating on the disc flanges 60 and dripping
onto the painted surface 25.
[0020] Forward movement of the paint line marker 10 causes the surface engaging front wheels
18 to rotate. Each rotating front wheel 18 rotates the respective spindle 54 and disc
24 mounted thereon. Advantageously, continuous rotation of the disc 24 during the
spraying operation exposes a continuously changing portion of the absorbent pad 62
(shown in Fig. 4) to the paint spray and allows the absorbent pad 62 to absorb a greater
amount of paint to further extend the masking disc 24 useful life.
[0021] While there has been shown and described what are at present considered the preferred
embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various
changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope of
the invention defined by the appended claims.
1. A paint line marker comprising:
a frame having a distal end and a proximal end;
a pair of spaced surface engaging wheels mounted to said frame distal end;
a pair of masking discs having opposing inwardly directed faces interposed between
said wheels; and
an absorbent pad mounted to each of said masking disc inwardly directed faces.
2. The paint line marker as in claim 1, wherein a spray paint can is mounted to said
frame and sprays paint between said masking discs.
3. The paint line marker as in claim 1, wherein said masking disc has a flange formed
around a perimeter of said masking disc.
4. The paint line marker as in claim 1, wherein said absorbent pad is formed from a woven
fabric.
5. The paint line marker as in claim 1, wherein said absorbent pad is ultrasonically
welded to said disc.
6. The paint line marker as in claim 1, wherein said disc is formed from a plastic material.
7. The paint line marker as in claim 1, wherein said disc is rotatably mounted, such
that movement along said surface of said paint line marker causes rotation of said
disc.
8. A masking disc assembly, suitable for use with a paint line marker, said assembly
comprising:
a masking disc having a front face; and
an absorbent pad mounted to said front face.
9. The masking disc as in claim 8, wherein a flange surrounding said front face forms
a cavity, and said absorbent pad is mounted to said front face in said cavity.
10. The masking disc as in claim 8, wherein said absorbent pad is formed from a woven
fabric.
11. The masking disc as in claim 8, wherein said absorbent pad is ultrasonically welded
to said disc.
12. The masking disc as in claim 8, wherein said disc is formed from a plastic material.