Automotive paint restoration tool and method

• US 6,375,377 B1
• Filed: 03/22/2000
• Issued: 04/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Total Car IP Holding Corporation
• Original Assignee: Robert Lowery
• Inventors: Lowery, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Walczak, David J.
• Application Number:
  US09/532,727
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 401/263, 401/261, 401/265, 401/266, 401/183, 401/184, 401/185, 401/267, 401/136, 401/139, 401/25, 401/26, 401/188.A, 401/188.R, 401/6, 401/137, 401/138
• US Class Current: 401/266
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 17/10 Hand tools for removing partially or for spreading or redistributing applied liquids or other fluent materials, e.g. colour touchers

Abstract

A method for restoring or touching-up blemishes, such as scratches and chips in an automotive paint finish, includes the steps of applying a measured bead of relatively thick matching touch-up paint to a flexible blade and drawing the flexible blade across the blemish to deposit the touch-up paint in the blemish to restore the blemish. A tool for restoring or touching-up blemishes such as scratches and chips in an automotive paint finish, includes a squeezable paint bottle that forms the handle of the tool, a coupler threaded at one end onto the bottle, a blade holder extending from the other end of the coupler to a forward edge, a flexible blade projecting from the forward edge of the blade holder to a free edge, and a nozzle projecting from the forward edge of the blade holder toward the free edge of the flexible blade. A passageway communicates between the squeezable bottle and the vicinity of the blade to deposit a measured amount of touch-up paint onto the blade when the bottle is squeezed, the blade subsequently being drawn over a blemish to deposit the touch-up paint in the blemish.

Claims

1. A tool for restoring blemishes in a painted finish, said tool comprising:

a squeezable bottle for containing touch-up paint, said squeezable bottle having an externally threaded mouth and being sized and configured to be held comfortably in the hand, wherein said squeezable bottle forms a handle of the tool;

a coupler having a first end and a second end and being provided on its first end with an internally threaded receptacle for threading said coupler onto said mouth of said squeezable bottle, wherein said coupler is angled between its ends to provide a comfortable attitude of said handle during use of said tool;

a blade holder disposed on said second end of said coupler, said blade holder projecting from said second end of said coupler to a substantially straight forward edge, wherein said blade holder flares outwardly from said second end of said coupler to said substantially straight forward edge;

a flexible blade having opposed surfaces and being secured along and projecting from said substantially straight edge of said blade holder to a free edge;

a passageway extending through said coupler and said blade holder, said passageway communicating between said treaded receptacle of said coupler and said forward edge of said blade holder adjacent one of said surfaces of said blade for delivering a bead of touch-up paint from said squeezable bottle onto said blade when said bottle as squeezed, the touch-up paint being wiped by said blade into a blemish to restore the blemish; and

,

a nozzle extending from said passageway at said forward edge of said blade holder toward said free edge of said blade for depositing a bead of touch-up paint adjacent the free edge of said blade when said squeezable bottle as squeezed.