Tape applicator for masking carpet edge

• US 5,316,614 A
• Filed: 01/28/1993
• Issued: 05/31/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Doyle S. Phillips
• Original Assignee: Doyle S. Phillips
• Inventors: Phillips, Doyle S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Simmons, David A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ENGEL, JAMES J
• Application Number:
  US08/010,076
• Time in Patent Office: 488 Days
• Field of Search: 156/523, 156/527, 156/574, 156/577, 156/579, 156/582, 156/475, 156/391
• US Class Current: 156/574
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/24 made at least partly of flexible material, e.g. sheets of paper or fabric
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2402/00 Constructional details of the handling apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 35/0033 and affixing it to a surface B65H35/004 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1348 Work traversing type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1788 Work traversing type and/or means applying work to wall or static structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/18 Surface bonding means and/or assembly means with handle or handgrip

Abstract

A tool for temporarily laying a protective length of masking tape over the edge of a carpet along the base of a wall about to be painted, has a flared tape-laying roller that inserts a lateral portion of the masking tape between the edge of the carpet and the base of the wall down to the floor.

Claims

1. A tool for laying a length of tape along the edge of a structure and for wrapping a lateral portion of said tape around said edge, said tool comprising:

a base having a substantially flat under-surface for riding above said structure;

said base defining a cavity opening into said flat under-surface;

a tape-laying roller rotatively mounted into said cavity about a first axis substantially parallel to said flat under-surface and substantially perpendicular to said edge;

said tape-laying roller comprising a cylindrical section, and a flaring, circular portion expanding radially and axially from one end of said cylindrical portion, said cylindrical portion having a peripheral wall extending out of said cavity beyond said under-surface; and

means for feeding said length of tape between said structure and said tape-laying roller when said flat under-surface is run along said edge of the structure,

said means for feeding comprise;

means for bending said lateral portion of said tape away from said edge prior to said tape engaging said tape-laying roller.

2. The tool of claim 1, wherein said means for feeding further comprise:

a roll of tape;

means for rotatively holding said roll of tape above said flat under-surface;

and wherein said means for bending comprise;

a tape-guiding roller positioned between said roll of tape and said tape-laying roller, said tape-guiding roller being rotatively held about a second axis substantially parallel to said first axis,

said tape-guiding roller comprising a cylindrical main body and an arcuately tapered distal portion.

3. The tool of claim 2, wherein said base has a lateral wall defining a flat outer surface along a plane perpendicular to said flat under-surface and to said first and second axis;

said tape-laying roller having a flat, circular distal end laying within said plane.

4. The tool of claim 3, wherein said base comprises a first guiding projection extending along said plane downwardly from said under-surface.

5. The tool of claim 4, wherein said first guiding projection comprises a tapered leading edge.

6. The tool of claim 4, wherein said base comprises a second guiding projection extending along said plane downwardly from said outer surface, said first and second guiding projections being positioned astride said flaring circular portion of the tape-laying roller.

7. The tool of claim 6, wherein said first and second projections extend down to a straight line tangent to said circular distal end of the tape-laying roller.

8. The tool of claim 7, which further comprises a handle secured to said base.

9. The tool of claim 8, wherein said means for holding said roll of tape comprises a post extending vertically from one end section of said base;

and

said handle spanning an opposite end-section of said base and an upper section of said post.

10. A tool for laying a length of masking tape along the edge of a carpet abutting a lower wall section and for inserting a lateral portion of said masking tape between said edge and said lower wall section, said tool comprising:

a tape-laying roller held orthogonally to said wall, said tape-laying roller having a cylindrical proximal portion and a distal portion arcuately flaring out from said cylindrical section to form a wheel having a larger diameter than said cylindrical section;

a tape-guiding roller held orthogonally to said wall, said tape-guiding roller having a cylindrical proximal portion and a distal portion arcuately tapering in from said cylindrical section to form and end having a smaller diameter than said cylindrical section; and

means for feeding said length of tape under said tape-laying roller.

11. The tool of claim 10, wherein said means for feeding comprises:

a supply of masking tape; and

wherein said tape-guiding roller is rotatively mounted between tape-laying roller and said roll of tape;

said distal portion of said tape-guiding roller being axially commensurate with the flaring out portion of the tape-laying roller.