NON-CYLINDRICAL ADHESIVE ROLLER ASSEMBLY

Abstract

An adhesive roller assembly is provided having a non-cylindrical roller. The non-cylindrical roller is rotatably affixed to a handle's distal end. In addition, adhesive tape is helically wrapped about the roller, and the adhesive tape includes perforations so as to facilitate the breaking of the adhesive tape into individual segments. Because the roller has a non-cylindrical circumferential surface, the adhesive tape is deformed to have a non-cylindrical exterior. The roller, and consequentially exterior of the adhesive tape, can take various forms. In preferred embodiments, the roller and tape exterior have a concave, convex, undulating, dimpled or bumpy surface. The adhesive tape is made of material providing increased elongation.

Claims

1. The adhesive roller assembly comprising: a handle; a roller rotably affixed to said handle, said roller rotating about a central axis and having a first end, a second end, and a non-cylindrical circumferential surface concentric to said axis; and a plurality of adhesive sheets wrapped around said roller's circumferential surface to as to provide an annular arrangement of sheets having a non-cylindrical exterior, each of said sheets having a base material providing at least 12% elongation, and each of said sheets having an exterior adhesive coating.

2. The adhesive roller assembly of claim 1 wherein said roller's circumferential surface is concave concentrically about said central axis.

3. The adhesive roller assembly of claim 2 wherein said roller's concave circumferential surface has a radius of curvature and the distance between said roller's first end and second end defines said concave surface's width, and said circumferential surface having a ratio of width:radius of curvature between 2:1 and 1:3.

4. The adhesive roller assembly of claim 1 wherein said roller's circumferential surface is convex concentrically about said central axis.

5. The adhesive roller assembly of claim 4 wherein said roller's convex circumferential surface has a radius of curvature and the distance between said roller's first end and second end defines said convex surface's width, and said circumferential surface having a ratio of width:radius of curvature between 2:1 and 1:3.

6. The adhesive roller assembly of claim 1 wherein said roller's circumferential surface has a plurality of convex dimples.

7. The adhesive roller assembly of claim 1 wherein said roller's circumferential surface has a plurality of concave depressions.

8. The adhesive roller assembly of claim 1 wherein said roller's circumferential surface has at least one concave region formed concentrically about said central axis and at least one concave region formed concentrically about said central axis.

9. The adhesive roller assembly of claim 1 wherein said roller's circumferential surface has a plurality of concave regions formed concentrically about said central axis and a plurality of concave regions formed concentrically about said central axis.

10. The adhesive roller assembly of claim 1 wherein said roller's circumferential surface has a concentric convex or concave region with a radius of curvature of 7 inches or less and said adhesive sheets have a base material providing at least 20% elongation.

11. The adhesive roller assembly of claim 1 wherein said roller's circumferential surface has a concentric convex or concave region with a radius of curvature of 6 inches or less and said adhesive sheets have a base material providing at least 150% elongation.

12. The adhesive roller assembly of claim 1 wherein said roller's circumferential surface has a concentric convex or concave region with a radius of curvature of 5 inches or less and said adhesive sheets have a base material providing at least 200% elongation.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an adhesive roller assembly;

[0023] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an adhesive roller assembly;

[0024] FIG. 3 is a front view of an alternative embodiment of the adhesive roller assembly;

[0025] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the adhesive roller assembly illustrated in FIG. 3;

[0026] FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating operation of an additional embodiment of the adhesive roller assembly;

[0027] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a roller having convex protuberances;

[0028] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a roller having concave depressions;

[0029] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a roller having a convex circumferential surface and convex protuberances;

[0030] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a roller having a convex circumferential surface and concave depressions;

[0031] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a roller having a concave circumferential surface and convex protuberances;

[0032] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a roller having a concave circumferential surface and concave depressions;

[0033] FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating the attachment of adhesive tape to a roller having a convex circumferential surface;

[0034] FIG. 13 are side cutaway and perspective views illustrating a roller having a convex circumferential surface;

[0035] FIG. 14 are side cutaway and perspective views illustrating a roller having a concave circumferential surface;

[0036] FIG. 15 are side cutaway and perspective views illustrating a roller having a convex and concave circumferential surface;

[0037] FIG. 16 is a perspective view illustrating a person utilizing the adhesive roller assembly to remove beard hairs;

[0038] FIG. 17 is a perspective view illustrating a roller assembly having a roller with a concave circumferential surface for use in removing particulates from the arm of a sofa;

[0039] FIG. 18 is a perspective view of an adhesive roller assembly having a convex circumferential surface in use removing particles from the front of a sofa;

[0040] FIG. 19 is a perspective view illustrating an adhesive roller assembly having a small roller with a convex circumferential surface with a particularly small radius of curvature for use in cleaning a computer keyboard; and

[0041] FIG. 20 is a perspective view illustrating an adhesive roller assembly having a roller with convex protuberances for use in cleaning a pillow.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0042] While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, as shown in the drawings, hereinafter will be described the presently preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the invention, and the present disclosure is not intended to limit the invention to specific embodiments illustrated.

[0043] With reference to FIGS. 1-20, the adhesive roller assembly 1 of the present invention includes a handle 5 and an adhesive tape wrapped roller 17. The handle 5 has a proximal end 7 and a distal end 9, and the roller is rotatably attached to the handle's distal end. The roller 17 is generally barrel shaped so as to have a center bore 19 coincident with the roller's central axis 35. Furthermore, the roller 17 includes a first end 21 and a second end 23 with the distance between the roller's first end and second end defining the roller's width.

[0044] Of importance, the roller 17 has a circumferential surface 25 which is not cylindrical. At each point along the roller's width, the roller's circumferential surface 25 concentrically forms a circle about the roller's central axis 35. However, the distance of the circumferential surface from the central axis varies along the width of the roller so that the roller does not have the cylindrical shape of a traditional adhesive lint roller. As explained in greater detail below, the roller's circumferential surface can take various forms and shapes such as having a concentric concave shape 31, a concentric convex shape 33, or variations thereof.

[0045] The roller 17 may be affixed to the handle 5 by various constructions known to those skilled in the art. However, in the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-20, the adhesive roller assembly 1 includes a hollow shaft 11 which extends from the handle's distal end 9. Preferably, the hollow shaft 11 has a length slightly larger than the length of the roller's center bore 19 and the handle's hollow shaft 11 has a diameter slightly smaller than the center bore's diameter so that the hollow shaft can concentrically and rotationally accept the roller 17. To prevent the roller 17 from unintentionally disengaging from the handle 5, preferably the shaft 11 includes an edge 15 which radially extends to partially cover the roller's first end 21. For installation of the roller 17 upon the shaft 11, preferably the shaft's distal end includes flexible fingers 13 so as to allow the hollow shaft's edge 15 to deform radially inward during installation of a roller 17.

[0046] Adhesive tape 45 is helically wrapped about the roller 17. Preferably, the adhesive tape has incremental perforations 49 so as to allow the adhesive tape 45 to be broken into easily removable segments 47. In addition, the adhesive tape's exterior 57 is coated with an adhesive 51. Though not shown, preferably the adhesive tape's interior is coated with a release agent.

[0047] Of importance, the adhesive tape 45 is made of a material providing greater elongation than is typically employed for adhesive tape assemblies. This is important because, as illustrated in FIG. 12, the tape 45 is linear prior to being coated with an adhesive 51 and being wrapped around the roller 17. During the wrapping of the tape 45 around the roller 17, the varied diameter of the roller requires that the tape deform to provide a smooth exterior surface. Traditional lint rollers employ a tape made of paper which does not provide the ductility and corresponding elongation to properly wrap a non-cylindrical roller. Accordingly, the adhesive roller assembly of the present invention employs a ductile tape providing at least 12%. The amount of elongation necessary depends on various factors including the width and curvature of the roller's circumferential surface.

[0048] Preferably, the adhesive tape base material has an elongation of at least 12% which is believed acceptable where the roller's circumferential surface 25 has departed only nominally from a cylindrical shape. However, the smaller the radius of curvature found on the roller's circumferential surface 25, results in the need for a greater elongation of the adhesive tape material. For example, a roller having a circumferential surface with a concave or convex region with a radius of curvature of approximately 6 inches requires adhesive tape with an elongation of at least 20%. For a roller 17 having a circumferential surface 25 with a convex or concave region having a radius of curvature of 5 inches preferably employs an adhesive tape material providing elongation of at least 150%. A roller 17 having an even more radical concave or convex region incorporating a 4 inch radius of curvature is preferably wrapped with an adhesive tape material having an elongation of 200% or more.

[0049] With the foregoing in mind, a first preferred roller assembly includes a roller 17 having a circumferential surface with a concentric convex or concave region with a radius of curvature of 7 inches or less wrapped with adhesive sheets made of a base material providing at least 20% elongation. For rollers 17 having convex or concave regions with a radius of curvature of 6 inches or less, it is preferred that the adhesive sheets 47 be made of a base material providing at least 150% elongation. Meanwhile, a preferred roller assembly having a roller with a concentric convex or concave region with a radius of curvature of 5 inches or less is preferably wrapped with adhesive sheets made of a base material providing at least 200% elongation. Acceptable materials for the adhesive sheet's base material providing at least 200% elongation include polyethylene, polyurethane, and silicone based plastics.

[0050] The various components of the adhesive roller assembly 1 can be made of various materials, and of various shapes and sizes. Preferably, the handle 5, hollow shaft 11, and roller 17 are made of a hard material such as wood, plastic, or even metal. Preferably, the rollers width is 1-6 inches for general household use such as cleaning upholstery or removing beard hair. However, even wider rollers may be employed such as for industrial cleaning. In addition, the rollers circumferential surface 25 can employ any shape so long as the circumferential surface is not cylindrical.

[0051] For example, with reference to FIGS. 1 and 13, a preferred adhesive roller assembly 1 includes a roller 17 having a convex region 33 which extends the entire width of the roller from the roller's first end 21 to the roller's second end 23. An alternative preferred roller embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 14 has a concave surface 31 that extends concentrically about the roller's central axis 35. Advantageously, the concave and convex rollers can be swapped for use with a single handle 5.

[0052] In still an addition preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the adhesive roller assembly 1 includes a handle 5 having two distal ends 9 with each end rotatably supporting a different shaped roller 17. Since the adhesive roller assembly 1 can support two different shaped rollers, it is preferred that a first roller 17 be constructed to include a concave circumferential surface supporting adhesive tape providing a concave shaped exterior 57. In addition, the same adhesive roller assembly 1 includes a second roller 17 which has a convex circumferential surface to accept adhesive tape wrapped to provide a convex exterior.

[0053] Alternatively, a roller may be constructed to include one or more concave regions 31 and one or more convex regions 33. For example, a preferred adhesive roller assembly 1 illustrated in FIG. 5 includes a roller 17 having a circumferential surface having four concentric convex regions 33 and three concentric concave regions 31. After the adhesive tape 45 has been wrapped around the roller's circumferential surface, the tape's exterior 57 includes a longitudinally undulating pattern which is particularly useful for cleaning rod shaped items within the concave grooves.

[0054] Still additional embodiments are illustrated in FIGS. 6-10. More particularly, FIGS. 6, 8 and 10 illustrate rollers 17 for use with the adhesive roller assembly that have a generally cylindrical construction (FIG. 6), a generally convex shape (FIG. 8), or a generally concave shape (FIG. 10). However, each of these rollers include additional convex protuberances 37 so that even the generally cylindrical construction shown in FIG. 6 is not considered herein to be cylindrical. As a result of the adhesive tape being made of a material having greater than traditional elongation, adhesive tape can be wrapped around such rollers to provide tape exteriors having multiple protuberances.

[0055] Conversely, FIGS. 7, 9 and 11 illustrate rollers having generally cylindrical, convex, and concave circumferential surfaces, but the circumferential surfaces include a plurality of depressions 39. However, each of these rollers include additional concave depressions 39 so that even the generally cylindrical construction shown in FIG. 7 is not considered herein to be cylindrical. Again, because the adhesive tape's elastomeric properties provide increased elongation, the adhesive tape 45 can be wrapped to provide a non-cylindrical surface having a plurality of depressions. This surface with depressions is believed beneficial to collect larger particulates as larger debris is pushed into these depressions during use, thereby creating better entrapment via more surface contact.

[0056] The protuberances 37 or depressions 39 may be any shape or size. Adhesive roller assemblies 1 incorporating a roller having multiple protuberances 37 or multiple depressions 39 are believed to be particularly useful in collecting unwanted particulates from soft materials such as for the removal of lint from upholstery or excess hair from a person's beard.

[0057] Advantageously, the adhesive roller assembly 1 of the present invention has an unlimited number of usages. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 16-20, the adhesive roller assembly 1 incorporating different shaped rollers such as convex, concave, or bumpy can be employed for a variety of cleaning operations including removing beard hair, cleaning upholstery, or cleaning computer keyboards.

[0058] While several particular forms of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, having described my invention in such terms such as to enable a person skilled in the art to understand the invention, recreate the invention and practice it, and having presently identified the presently preferred embodiments thereof, I claim: