Applicator for and method of applying a sheet material to a substrate

• US 7,540,933 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2006
• Issued: 06/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Rothwell, Timothy Charles, Gausmann, Keith Hobart, Steinhardt, Mark John, Dugas, Michael Bernard
• Primary Examiner(s): Tucker; Philip C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chan; Sing P
• Application Number:
  US11/413,765
• Publication Number:
  US 20070034328A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• Field of Search: 156/71, 156/184, 156/191, 156/459, 156/577, 156/582, 156/583.8, 156/250, 156/160, 156/269, 156/379.8, 156/360.6, 156/380.7, 156/510, 156/523, 156/526, 156/576, 156579-581, 156/574, 152/353, 152/354, 152/357, 425/458, 163/74, 163/75, 163/85, 163/55, 222/43, 222/80, 222/83, 222/89, 222/90, 222/245
• US Class Current: 156/269
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 63/024 the sheet or web-like material being supported by a moving carriage
• CPC Class Codes: B44C 7/06 for applying the paper to the surface to be covered
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1052 with cutting, punching, tearing or severing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/108 Flash, trim or excess removal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1084 of continuous or running length bonded web
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1348 Work traversing type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1361 Cutting after bonding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1378 Cutter actuated by or secured to bonding element
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1788 Work traversing type and/or means applying work to wall or static structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1793 Grip or clamp for web end
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1795 Implement carried web supply

Abstract

A method and device for applying sheet material, such as wallpaper, to a substrate. The applicator is bi-positionable, having a first position where the sheet material is spaced apart from the substrate and a second position where the sheet material contacts the substrate. Additionally or alternatively, the applicator may be provided with a control bar. In the first position, the control bar contacts a portion of the sheet material such as its free end. This minimizes the chance of the sheet material prematurely contacting the substrate. In the second position, the sheet material is disengaged from the control bar for application to the substrate. The applicator and sheet material may be provided together in a kit.

Claims

1. A bi-positionable applicator for applying a sheet material to a substrate, said applicator comprising:

a housing comprising a holder for receiving a quantity of sheet material therein, wherein at least a portion of said housing comprises a handle for gripping by a user;

an operating unit assembly movably joined to said housing, at least a portion of said operating unit assembly being movable relative to said housing from a first position to a second position, wherein at least a portion of said operating unit assembly engages at least one of the sheet material and the substrate in said first position and disengages the sheet material or substrate in said second position; and

a cutting mechanism comprising part of said operating unit assembly, said cutting mechanism comprising;

at least one cutting blade disposed in a recess in said housing when said cutting blade is not in use;

a cutter actuator for activating said at least one cutting blade so that said cutting blade is disposed at least partially outside said recess, said cutter actuator being at least indirectly joined to said at least one cutting blade, wherein said cutter actuator is located in a recess between said housing and a frame so that it will rest against the side of one of the user'"'"'s fingers while the user'"'"'s hand remains on the handle.

2. The bi-positionable applicator of claim 1 wherein said cutting mechanism further comprises a safety mechanism operatively joined to the portion of said housing comprising a handle for gripping by a user, said safety mechanism being joined at least indirectly to said at least one of said cutting blade and said cutting actuator, said safety mechanism having a first position and a second position, wherein said safety mechanism permits the cutter actuator to move when said safety mechanism is in its second position, but not in its first position, wherein said safety mechanism comprises a cutter release safety bar on said handle.

3. A method for applying a sheet material to a substrate, said sheet material having a width, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a bi-positionable applicator, said applicator comprising a housing comprising a holder for receiving a quantity of sheet material therein, wherein at least a portion of said housing comprises a handle for gripping by a user;

an operating unit assembly movably joined to said housing, wherein at least a portion of said operating unit assembly is biased to move away from said housing by a spring, and is movable relative to said housing from a first position to a second position, wherein at least a portion of said applicator engages said sheet material and the substrate in said first position;

placing said applicator against the substrate, whereby said sheet material is spaced apart from said substrate;

moving said operating unit assembly from said first position to said second position by pressing said applicator against said substrate so that at least a portion of said operating unit assembly retracts and said sheet material contacts said substrate and said applicator is in a first orientation;

moving said applicator in an application direction, whereby said sheet material is applied to the substrate;

rotating said applicator to a second orientation wherein at least a portion of said applicator engages said sheet material; and

cutting said sheet material with a cutting mechanism comprising part of said operating unit assembly, said cutting mechanism comprising;

at least one cutting blade disposed in a recess in said housing when said cutting blade is not in use;

a cutter actuator for activating said at least one cutting blade so that said cutting blade is disposed at least partially outside said recess,

said cutter actuator being at least indirectly joined to said at least one cutting blade, wherein said cutter actuator is located in a recess between said housing and a frame so that it will rest against the side of one of the user'"'"'s fingers while the user'"'"'s hand remains on the handle.

4. A bi-positionable applicator for applying a sheet material to a substrate, said applicator comprising:

a housing comprising a holder for receiving a quantity of sheet material therein, wherein at least a portion of said housing comprises a handle for gripping by a user;

an operating unit assembly movably joined to said housing, wherein at least a portion of said operating unit assembly is movable relative to said housing from a first position to a second position, wherein at least a portion of said applicator engages at least one of the sheet material and the substrate in said first position and disengages the sheet material or substrate in said second position, wherein said operating unit assembly comprises;

at least one standoff for spacing a sheet material away from the substrate, said at least one standoff joined to a portion of said operating unit assembly and being disposable against the substrate to which the sheet material is to be applied to engage the substrate when said operating unit assembly is in said first position, said standoff being retractable from said substrate when said operating unit assembly is moved to said second position;

an elongate control bar joined to a portion of said operating unit assembly, said elongate control bar for attaching the free end of the sheet material thereto when said operating unit assembly and said holder are in said first position, said free end of said sheet material being released from said control bar when said frame and said holder are in said second position; and

a cutting mechanism joined to a portion of said operating unit assembly, said cutting mechanism comprising at least one cutting blade disposed in a recess in said housing when said cutting blade is not in use,

wherein the at least one standoff, control bar, and cutting mechanism can be deployed by moving only one portion of the applicator only operating the cutting mechanism.