Apex Roller

Abstract

A roller for applying paint or other liquid or semi-liquid substances to surfaces. The roller includes a tubular frame that extends in a cylindrical shape. This tubular frame has two ends: a first end tapers outward (away from the main body of the tubular frame) to an enclosed conical point or apex. A second end is open and adapted to permit access to the interior volume of the tubular frame by a shaft of a roller frame. The open second end of the tubular frame permits selective removal and insertion of the paint roller shaft into the tubular frame. Typically, the tubular frame is held in place on the shaft by friction. A cover wrap dimensioned to circumferentially envelop the tubular frame is also included in the assembly; this cover wrap has a liquid-absorbent outer surface adapted for temporarily retaining paint, stain, or other liquid or semi-liquid substances.

Claims

1. A roller assembly for applying paint to surface areas and to tight areas, comprising: a roller frame including a shaft adapted to receive a roller cover and to permit an installed roller cover to rotate about a longitudinal axis defined by a length of said shaft; a roller cover including a substantially cylindrical tubular frame body having a hollow interior volume and a first end and a second end at either end of a longitudinal axis of said cylindrical tubular frame body, the first end including a continuation of the of the tubular frame body tapering to an apex, the second end open and adapted to permit access to the interior volume of said tubular frame body by the shaft of the roller frame; and a cover wrap dimensioned to circumferentially envelop said tubular frame body, said cover wrap including a liquid-absorbent outer surface adapted for temporarily retaining paint, stain, or other liquid or semi-liquid substances.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the shaft of the roller frame further comprises a conical end piece adapted to fit within a hollow interior volume defined by the apex of the first end of the tubular frame body of the roller cover.

3. A roller cover assembly for use in applying paint to surface areas and to tight areas, comprising: a roller frame including a shaft adapted to receive a roller cover and to permit an installed roller cover to rotate about a longitudinal axis defined by a length of said shaft; a roller cover including a substantially cylindrical tubular frame body having a hollow interior volume and a first end and a second end at either end of a longitudinal axis of said cylindrical tubular frame body, said substantially cylindrical tubular frame body being adapted to be fit onto a shaft of a roller frame, the first end including a continuation of the of the tubular frame body tapering to an apex, the second end open and adapted to permit access to the interior volume of said tubular frame body by the shaft of the roller frame.

4. The roller cover assembly of claim 3 further comprising a cover wrap dimensioned to circumferentially envelop said tubular frame body, said cover wrap including a liquid-absorbent outer surface adapted for temporarily retaining paint, stain, or other liquid or semi-liquid substances.

5. The roller cover assembly of claim 4, wherein said liquid-absorbent outer surface is adapted for temporarily retaining water-based paint.

6. The roller cover assembly of claim 4, wherein said liquid-absorbent outer surface is adapted for temporarily retaining oil-based paint.

7. The roller cover assembly of claim 4, wherein said liquid-absorbent outer surface is adapted for temporarily retaining stain.

8. A roller cover for applying paint to surface areas and to tight areas, comprising: a substantially cylindrical tubular frame body having a hollow interior volume and a first end and a second end at either end of a longitudinal axis of said cylindrical tubular frame body, the first end including a continuation of the of the tubular frame body tapering to an apex, the second end open and adapted to permit access to the interior volume of said tubular frame body by the shaft of the roller frame; and a cover wrap dimensioned to circumferentially envelop said tubular frame body, said cover wrap including a liquid-absorbent outer surface adapted for temporarily retaining paint, stain, or other liquid or semi-liquid substances.

9. The roller cover of claim 8, wherein said liquid-absorbent outer surface is adapted for temporarily retaining water-based paint.

10. The roller cover of claim 8, wherein said liquid-absorbent outer surface is adapted for temporarily retaining oil-based paint.

11. The roller cover of claim 8, wherein said liquid-absorbent outer surface is adapted for temporarily retaining stain.

Description

FIGURES

[0023] The above-mentioned and additional features of the invention will become more clearly understood from the following detailed description of the invention read together with the drawings in which:

[0024] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a roller frame according to one example embodiment of the present general inventive concept;

[0025] FIG. 2 is a second perspective view of the same embodiment shown in FIG. 1, showing the tubular frame roller cover installed on the roller frame; and

[0026] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing one example embodiment of the present general inventive concept in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] Generally, the present general inventive concept embraces a roller for applying paint (or other liquid or semi-liquid substances) to surfaces, with the roller including a tubular frame that extends in a cylindrical shape. This tubular frame has two ends. A first end tapers outward (away from the main body of the tubular frame) to an enclosed conical point. A second end is open and adapted to permit access to the interior volume of the tubular frame by a shall of a roller frame; the roller frame, in addition to the shaft, includes a handle for grasping by a user; generally, the cross axle of the shaft is oriented at substantially a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the handle. The open second end of the tubular frame permits selective removal and insertion of the paint roller shaft into the tubular frame. Typically, the tubular frame is held in place on the shaft by friction. A cover wrap dimensioned to circumferentially envelop the tubular frame is also included in the assembly; this cover wrap has a liquid-absorbent outer surface adapted for temporarily retaining paint, stain, or other liquid or semi-liquid substances.

[0028] Reference will now be made to the example embodiments of the present general inventive concept, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and illustrations. The example embodiments are described herein in order to explain the present general inventive concept by referring to the figures.

[0029] Various terms used herein are intended to have particular meanings. Some of these terms are defined below for the purpose of clarity. The definitions given below are meant to cover all forms of the words being defined (e.g., singular, plural, present tense, past tense). If the definition of any term below diverges from the commonly understood and/or dictionary definition of such term, the definitions below control.

[0030] Note that spatially relative terms, such as “up,” “down,” “right,” “left,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over or rotated, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

[0031] Turning to the Figures, FIGS. 1 and 2 show an assembly 10 according to one example embodiment of the present general inventive concept. The roller assembly 10 generally comprises a roller cover 20 and a roller frame 30. The roller frame 30 includes a shaft 32, adapted to receive a roller cover and to permit an installed roller cover to rotate about a longitudinal axis defined by the length of said shaft 32, the shaft 32 generally comprises a cross axle for this purpose. The roller frame 30, in addition to the shaft 32, includes a handle 35 for grasping by a user; generally, the cross axle of the shaft 32 is oriented at substantially a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the handle 35.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 2, the roller cover 20 generally comprises a substantially cylindrical tubular frame body, which includes a hollow interior volume and two ends at either end of a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical tubular frame body. At a first end of the substantially cylindrical tubular frame body, the roller cover body tapers to a conical end or apex 25. A second end is open and adapted to permit access to the interior volume of the tubular frame by the shaft 32 of the roller frame 30. The open second end of the tubular frame permits selective removal and insertion of the paint roller shaft 32 into the tubular frame of the roller cover 20. Generally, the tubular frame is held in place on the shaft 32 by friction.

[0033] A cover wrap dimensioned to circumferentially envelop the tubular frame is also included in the assembly; this cover wrap has a liquid-absorbent outer surface adapted for temporarily retaining paint, stain, or other liquid or semi-liquid substances. In some embodiments, the liquid-absorbent outer surface is specially or particularly adapted for temporarily retaining water-based paint. In some embodiments, the liquid-absorbent outer surface is specially or particularly adapted for temporarily retaining oil-based paint. In some embodiments, the liquid-absorbent outer surface is specially or particularly adapted for temporarily retaining stain. (For convenience, the term “paint” shall hereinafter be understood to encompass paint, stain, and other liquid and semi-liquid substances that are capable of being applied to a surface area by roller.)

[0034] In some example embodiments of the present general inventive concept, the shaft 32 of the roller frame 30 includes a conical end piece 38 adapted to fit within a hollow interior volume defined by the conical end or apex 25 of the roller cover 20. This conical end piece 38 helps to maintain the shape and structural integrity of the conical end or apex 25 when the roller assembly 10 is in use.

[0035] In application, the roller assembly 10 operates much like a conventional roller in applying paint to a surface area. The substantially cylindrical tubular frame of the roller cover 20 has sufficient length and sufficient outboard surface area to be useful in applying paint to a large surface area. As shown in FIG. 3, the conical end or apex 25 of the roller cover is used to apply paint to inner corners, edges, and other tight areas of a wall or painting surface W. The handle 35 allows a user H to grasp and manipulate the roller assembly 10. Thus, through use of a roller assembly according to the present general inventive concept, a single painting tool is used to apply paint both to large surface areas and to inner corners, edges, and other tight areas.

[0036] Various example embodiments of the present general inventive concept provide apparatus and means suitable for applying paint to inner corners while also being useful for painting large surface areas away from edges and corners. Embodiments of the present general inventive concept reduce or eliminate the need to use a brush or other small tool for applying paint in tight areas, reducing the number of painting tools that must be purchased, cleaned, and maintained. Embodiments of the present general inventive concept help produce a painted surface without different textures in places where different painting implements have been utilized. Moreover, embodiments of the present general inventive concept make the process of applying paint in tight areas more efficient and less time-consuming.

[0037] While the present invention has been illustrated by description of several embodiments and while the illustrative embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of the applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and methods, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of applicant's general inventive concept.