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(11) | EP 0 982 153 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Wallpaper pasting tool |
| (57) A decorating support 1 comprising a support plate 4 mounted on a arm 13 supported
through a variable height support 3 mounted on a wheeled base unit 2. The height of
the support plate 4 can be varied by raising or lowering the arm 13 on the support
1 while the horizontal location of the support plate 4 can be varied by moving the
base unit 2 on its wheels 9. The support plate 4 is movably attached to the arm 13
so that pasted wallpaper can be folded on support plate and then carried to and placed
upon the arm. Wallpapering can then be carried out with the bulk of the weight of
the wallpaper supported by the support plate, easing positioning of the wallpaper
and preventing stretching and tearing. As the wallpapering operation proceeds the
position of the support tray 4 can be adjusted both vertically and horizontally for
the convenience of the decorator allowing both the walls and ceilings to be papered. |
[0001] This invention relates to a decorating support and in particular to a mobile decorating support for use in wallpapering.
[0002] The use of ceiling and wall coverings in the form of paper or textiles has been common for many years. Adhesives are applied to these coverings to provide a firm bond to the wall or ceiling when set. However, when wet, the adhesives tend to cause the covering to soften resulting in the stretching or tearing of the wall covering during application. In many cases the softening of the ceiling or wall coverings is such that the covering will stretch or tear under its own weight when a relatively short section is left unsupported. This is particularly a problem for paper based ceiling and wall coverings.
[0003] As a result, applying coverings to walls and particularly ceilings generally requires at least two decorators to be carried out successfully. This requirement for an assistant is inconvenient and expensive where decorating work is done professionally and is often simply not feasible for the amateur do it yourself decorator, making it difficult to obtain good results.
[0004] This invention is intended to overcome these problems, at least in part, by providing a tool able to replace the decorators assistant.
[0005] This invention provides a decorating tool comprising a support element freely detachably mounted on a variable height support with a mobile wheeled base in which the variable height support allows the height of the support element to be altered when the support element is mounted on the variable height support by urging the variable height support towards the desired height.
[0006] This allows the wall or ceiling covering to be coated with adhesive as convenient, for example on a pasting table, and then placed on the support element. The support element can then be carried bearing the wall or ceiling covering to the variable height support and mounted thereon. The height of the support can then be varied by simply pushing or pulling the variable height support towards the desired height and the entire tool moved on the wheeled base so that the support element supports the wall or ceiling covering at a convenient position for work to proceed. The variable height support and wheeled base allow the support element to be moved as required as work progresses. The tool can be used to support the wall or ceiling covering close to the work location so that the unsupported length of the covering is short enough to prevent tearing or stretching, allowing good results to be easily achieved by a single decorator.
[0007] A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic figures, in which:
Figure 1 shows a first example of a decorating tool according to the invention;
Figure 2 shows the base section of the tool of Figure 1 in more detail;
Figure 3 shows details of the variable height support of the tool of Figure 1;
Figures 4a and 4b show perspective and side views respectively of a support element of the tool of Figure 1;
Figures 5a and 5b show alternative bases which can be used with the tool of Figure 1;
Figure 6 shows an alternative base suitable for mounting on a trestle which can be used in the tool of Figure 1;
Figures 7a and 7b show alternative variable height supports which can be used in the tool of Figure 1;
Figures 8a and 8b show perspective and side views of an alternative support plate which can be used in the tool of Figure 1; and
Figure 9 shows a tool tray which can be substituted for the support plate in the tool of Figure 1.
[0008] Referring to Figures 1 to 4, a decorating tool 1 comprises a mobile wheeled base unit 2 supporting a variable height support 3 on which a detachable support plate 4 is rotatably and detachably mounted.
[0009] The mobile wheeled base 2 is collapsible and is formed from three bent tubes 5a and 5b of square cross section.
[0010] The main leg is formed by tube 5a while a pair of shorter folding legs perpendicular to the main leg are formed by the tubes 5b. Each tube 5b is connected to the main tube 5a by a hinge 6 and each tube 5b supports a pivotally moveable strut 7. The free ends of the struts 7 can be engaged in respective holes 8 in the upper surface of the main tube 5a to form the tubes 5a and 5b into a rigid tripod structure. When the tool 1 is not in use the struts 7 can be disengaged from the holes 8 and the tubes 5b can be folded about the hinges 6 into positions adjacent and parallel to the tube 5a for easy storage.
[0011] Each of the tubes 5a and 5b bears a castor type wheel 9 on its underside near its lower end and these castors 9 allow free movement of the tool in all horizontal directions.
[0012] The tubes 5a and 5b are bent through a right angle so that when their lower sections are supported by the castors 9 on a horizontal floor the upper parts of the tubes 5a and 5b are vertical.
[0013] The variable height support 3 comprises three square section tubular sections 3a, 3b and 3c which are fitted one inside the other to allow telescopic extension and retraction of the variable height support 3.
[0014] The tube of the lower tubular section 3a is sized to fit securely within the top of the main tube 5a of the base unit 2 and a first screw fixing 10 is provided to hold the variable height support 3 in place on the base 2.
[0015] The middle section 3b fits within the lower section 3a and the upper section 3c in turn fits within the middle section of 3b. A second screw fixing 11 is situated at the top of the lower section 3a while a third screw fixing 12 is situated at the top of the middle section 3b.
[0016] The second screw fixing 11 controls movement of the middle section 3b relative to the lower section 3a while the third screw fixing 12 controls movement of the upper section 3c relative to the middle section 3b.
[0017] The second and third screw fixings 11 and 12 include spring washers so that they can generate sufficient friction between the tubular sections 3a to 3c to support the loaded support plate 4, but allow the structure to expand and contract telescopically to change the height of the support plate 4 by the user pulling or pushing up or down.
[0018] At the upper end of the upper section 3c a horizontal arm 13 projects from the upper section 3c and a vertical pin 14 projects from the arm 13 at the end remote from the upper section 3c.
[0019] A removable plate 4 is formed by a partially cylindrical member 4a with its convex surface facing upwards and having a tubular handle 4b projecting perpendicularly downwards from the centre of the member 4a. Two pairs of stiffening elements 4c and 4d are arranged mutually perpendicularly linking the tubular handle 4b with the lower face of the member 4a to stiffen and support the member 4a.
[0020] The tubular handle 4b is sized to fit snugly over the vertical pin 14 and projects far enough below the support elements 4c and 4d to provide an easy and firm hand hold. In the illustrated embodiment the tubular handle 4b has a plain cylindrical outer surface. If preferred, the outer surface of the handle 4b could be shaped into a grip shape or have a separate grip mounted thereon.
[0021] The removable plate 4 is freely liftable on and off the pin 14. Accordingly, in order to raise the plate 4 the user should urge the arm 13 upwards rather than the plate 4 in order to avoid lifting the plate 4 off the pin 14. The plate 4 can of course be lowered by urging the arm 13 or the plate 4 downwards.
[0022] The horizonal arm 13 is shorter than the horizontal length of the tube 5a so that when the tool is assembled the pin 14 is vertically above the tube 5a but is nearer to the variable height support 3 than the castor 9 on the tube 5a. Further, the length of the support plate 4 should be such that the ends of the support plate 4 do not project beyond the castors 9 in plan. This ensures that no matter how the support plate 4 is oriented relative to the rest of the tool 1 and no matter how unevenly the support plate 4 is loaded the centre of gravity of the tool 1 will remain within a triangle having its vertices at the castors 9 and the tool 1 will remain stable. It is preferred that the bottom end of the variable height support 3 and the tube 5a of the base 2 be keyed so that the tool 1 can only be assembled with the arm 13 in the correct orientation relative to the base 2.
[0023] Although the tubes making up the base 2 and variable height support 3 could be cylindrical rather than square, square section tubes are preferred because square section tubing automatically prevents rotation of the arm 13 relative to the base 2 without the need for any additional anti-rotation keying features.
[0024] In use the tubes 5b are pivoted into positions perpendicular to the tube 5a and the struts 7 are located in the holes 8 to lock the tubes 5b in place. Then, the bottom end of the variable height support 3 is placed within the tube 5a and the first screw fixing 10 tightened to secure the variable height support 3 in place. Then, the tool 1 can be wheeled into position and the height adjusted until the pin 14 is at a convenient location relative to the planned work position.
[0025] The wall or ceiling covering, which will be referred to as a wallpaper hereinafter for simplicity, can then be pasted at any convenient location and folded concertina fashion on the support plate 4. The convex shape of the support plate 4 is convenient to allow any adhesive or excess fluid released by the adhesive to be carried away from the wallpaper. The plate 4 can then be picked up by the handle 4b and carried, supporting the wallpaper, to the work location and placed upon the vertical pin 14. The wallpaper can then be worked upon and attached to a wall or ceiling with most of the weight of the wallpaper being supported by the tool 1. This greatly eases the task of locating the wallpaper and ensuring that it is properly adhered because the decorator does not have to support most of the weight of the wallpaper. Further, tearing or stretching of the wallpaper due to its own weight is avoided because the bulk of its weight is supported by the tool 1 rather than by tension through the wallpaper itself. As the job progresses on a horizontal surface, such as a ceiling, the tool 1 can be easily moved on the castors 9 and the support plate 4 rotated to keep the wallpaper at a convenient position and orientation relative to the work location.
[0026] When wallpapering on a horizontal surface such as a ceiling it will often be convenient to have the screw fixings 11 and 12 fully tightened so that the height of the variable height support 3 and thus the vertical position of the support plate 4 remains constant during the work. However, when the wallpaper is being placed on a vertical surface such as a wall it will be necessary to make regular adjustments to the vertical height of the support plate 4 to keep the supported wallpaper conveniently situated relative to the work location. Although it would be possible to make such adjustments by loosening one or both or the screw fixings 11 and 12, moving the support plate 4 and then retightening the screw fixings 11 and 12, the tool according to the invention includes a friction mechanism such as a spring washer within the screw fixings 11 and 12 so that the variable height support 3 supports the wallpaper on the support plate 4 at a fixed height but the frictional resistance to movement of the variable height support 3 can be overcome by pulling or pushing the arm 13 vertically to overcome the friction.
[0028] In Figure 5a the base unit 2 is formed by a vertical square section tube 15 and solid legs 16 and 17. The main leg 16 is welded or otherwise fixed to the tube 15 while the pair of shorter solid legs 17 are attached to the tube 15 by hinges 6. As before struts 7 hold the folding legs 17 in fixed perpendicular positions relative to the main leg 16.
[0029] In Figure 5b another alternative construction of the base 2 is shown in which a square section vertical tube 15 is pivotally attached by a hinge 18 to a horizontal triangular base plate 19. The triangular base plate 19 can fold up to the tube 15 for storage but is normally held in position perpendicular to the tube 15 by a folding strut 20. Castors 9 are mounted at the corners of the triangular base plate 19.
[0030] It will be realised that the above described base units are purely exemplary and numerous alternative designs of folding or fixed base units can be envisaged.
[0031] Referring to Figure 6 an alternative base unit 21 for use in connection with a trestle is shown.
[0032] When wallpapering ceilings or other horizontal surfaces it is common for the decorator to use a trestle or some other form of horizontally extending support surface to provide a horizontal working area conveniently vertically spaced from the surface to be wallpapered.
[0033] Although the tool 1 can be used in conjunction with such a trestle or similar arrangement difficulties can arise when it is necessary to move the tool 1 horizontally as the work location changes because the base 2 of the tool 1 can be become entangled with the trestle legs or supports. Further, where the horizontal surface to be wallpapered is unusually high the vertical height required for the tool 1 can be so great as to make its use inconvenient.
[0034] In order to overcome these problems the base unit 21 is arranged to be supported by the trestle or other horizontal support surface rather than the floor.
[0035] The base unit 21 comprises a vertical square section cylindrical tube 22 bearing a screw fixing 10 to secure the variable height support 3 as before.
[0036] Secured to the vertical tube 22 are four horizontal legs 23 to 25. The main leg 23 extends horizontally across the trestle surface while the legs 24 extend horizontally perpendicularly to the leg 23 parallel to the edge of the trestle surface and have horizontal projecting end elements 24a projecting horizontally inwards parallel to the leg 23 over the trestle surface. The leg 23 and each of the horizonal projections 24a mount a fixed directional wheel 25 arranged to allow rolling movement of the tool 1 parallel to the trestle edge only.
[0037] Each leg 24 also has a vertical projection 24b extending vertically downwards coplanar with the tube 22 so that the vertical projections 24b and tube 22 can bear against the edge of the trestle to stabilize movement of the tool 1.
[0038] The fourth leg 25 extends horizontally parallel to and vertically below the main leg 23 under the surface of the trestle and supports a balance weight 27. The leg 25 is shorter than the main leg 23 so that the balance weight 27 is located closer to the tube 22 than the wheel 26 mounted on the main leg 23.
[0039] The balance weight 27 ensures that the loaded tool 1 is stably supported at the edge of the trestle and the size of the balance weight must be selected appropriately for this in view of the dimensions of tool and expected loads.
[0040] The fixed direction wheels 26 and projections 24b allow the tool 1 to be moved along the edge of the trestle.
[0041] In use, the tool 1 having the base 21 can be mounted on a trestle to support the wallpaper at a convenient location close to the work position and allows the support plate 4 to be moved horizontally as the work progresses without any danger of the base 2 becoming entangled or having its range of movement limited by the trestle legs or supports. Further, where the surface being wallpapered is relatively high the support plate 4 can be located close to the work location without the overall height and size of the tool 1 having to be made so great that it becomes to inconvenient to use.
[0043] In Figure 7a the variable height support comprises a square base plug 28 sized to fit securely into the tube of the base 2 and first and second arms 29 and 30. The first arm 29 is pivotally connected to the base plug 28 while the second arm 30 is pivotally connected to the first arm 29. The vertical pin 14 is pivotally connected to the free end of the second arm 30. The pivotal connections 31 between the base plug 28, arms 29 and 30 and pin 14 are preferably of an adjustable spring loaded friction type so that the variable height support 3 will hold the loaded support plate in place by friction and allow the support plate 4 to be urged into the new position by overcoming the frictional forces.
[0044] Although this structure is mechanically simple and light weight, because of the high leverages inserted at the joints it is difficult to arrange the friction hinges so that the loaded support plate 4 will be held in position but can be easily urged into a new position.
[0045] Further, in a variable height support of this type it may be necessary to limit the range of movement of the hinges in order to ensure that the support plate 4 cannot be moved into a horizontal position which would render the tool 1 unstable.
[0046] In Figure 7b the variable height support again comprises a square base plug 28. A plurality of arms 32 are pivotally attached to the base plug 28, to one another and to a support arm 33 so that the arms 32 form a lazy tongs type extending structure for vertical extension. A vertical slide element 34 is mounted on the base plug 28 and provides a guide to keep the movement of the lazy tongs structure vertical. Screw clamps 35 are provided where the lazy tongs are connected to the vertical slide element 34 and at the sliding joint between the lazy tongs structure and the support arm 33 to allow the vertical movement of the support arm 33 to be controlled and fixed. The support arm 33 bears a vertical pin 14 as before.
[0047] The main disadvantage of this lazy tongs type structure is the horizontal clearance required for movement of the lazy tong arms.
[0048] Accordingly, although the above described alternative variable height supports are entirely practical and the person skilled in the art will be able to envisage numerous other possible variable height support arrangements the above described telescoping variable height support is preferred.
[0049] Referring to Figures 8a and 8b an alternative support plate 35 is shown. The alternative support plate 35 comprises a flat support surface 35a which is mounted on a tubular handle 4b as before. Two pairs of mutually perpendicular support elements 35b and 35c support the surface 35a and secure it to the handle 4b. Further, a flange 35d is formed around the edge of the plate 35 to increase the rigidity of the surface 35a and the supporting elements 35b and 35c are secured to the flange 35d.
[0050] Finally, the tool 1 can be used as a general support providing a convenient moveable location for storage of tools and other items while working and a suitable tool tray 36 is shown in figure 9. The tool tray 36 comprises a flat tray surface 36a having raised edges 36b and attached to a tubular handle 36c which can be fitted over the pin 14 of the tool 1.
[0051] It would be possible to employ a variable height support mounting the support plate 4 directly above the vertical height support 3 rather than having the support plate offset from the variable height support 3 by the arm 13. Use of the arm 13 is preferred because it allows greater flexibility in use because the arm 13 can be used to reach over intervening obstacles, increasing the range of situations in which the tool 1 can be effectively used.
1. A decorating tool comprising a support element freely detachably mounted on a variable
height support with a mobile wheeled base in which the variable height support allows
the height of the support element to be altered when the support element is mounted
on the variable height support by urging the variable height support towards the desired
height.
2. A decorating tool as claimed in claim 1, in which the support element can be freely
lifted on and off the variable height support.
3. A decorating tool as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the support element is
detachably mounted on an arm of the variable height support.
4. A decorating tool as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the variable height
support comprises a number of coaxial hollow tubes arranged for telescopic movement.
5. A decorating tool as claimed in claim 4, in which the tubes are square in cross section.
6. A decorating tool as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the variable height
support comprises a plurality of mutually pivotally linked arms pivotally linked to
the base and the support element.
7. A decorating tool as claimed in claim 6, in which the plurality of mutually pivotally
linked arms form a lazy tongs structure.
8. A decorating tool as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the support element
comprises a supporting plate.
9. A decorating tool as claimed in claim 8 in which the supporting plate has a convex
upper face.
10. A decorating tool as claimed in any preceding claim in which the base comprises three
legs each bearing a castor.
11. A decorating tool as claimed in claim 10 in which the legs are pivotally connected
to allow the base to be collapsed by pivoting the legs.
12. A decorating tool as claimed in any preceding claim in which the variable height support
is releasable secured to the base.
13. A decorating tool as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, in which the base comprises
at least three fixed axis wheels and at least one guide member to allow movement of
the tool along an edge of a horizontal working platform.
14. A decorating tool as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the support element
is detachably mounted for rotation about a vertical axis.
15. A decorating tool as claimed in claim 14, in which the support element includes a
tubular portion and is mounted on the variable height support by the tubular portion
fitting over a spigot of the variable height support.
16. A decorating tool as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the support element
includes a handle.
17. A decorating tool as claimed in claim 16, in which the support element includes a
tubular handle, the outer surface of the tubular handle forming a handle grip while
the inner surface of the tubular handle provides a tubular portion fitting over a
spigot of the variable height support to detachably mount the support element for
rotation about a vertical axis.
18. A decorating tool substantially as shown in or as described with reference to any
one of the corresponding drawings.