초록 ▼

A trim tool and paint tray system for use in dispensing paint. The system includes a trim tool having a paint applicator to apply paint to a surface to be painted and at least one edge guard to shield adjacent surfaces that are to remain free of paint from the applicator. The system also includes

A trim tool and paint tray system for use in dispensing paint. The system includes a trim tool having a paint applicator to apply paint to a surface to be painted and at least one edge guard to shield adjacent surfaces that are to remain free of paint from the applicator. The system also includes a paint tray having a paint-receiving well and at least one slot free of paint. The paint tray is configured to receive the trim tool such that the paint applicator is received in the paint well to charge the paint applicator with paint and the edge guard is received in the slot so the edge guard remains free of paint.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A trim tool and paint tray system for use in dispensing paint, the system comprising: a trim tool having a paint applicator to apply paint to a surface to be painted and at least one edge guard to shield adjacent surfaces that are to remain free of paint from the applicator;

What is claimed is: 1. A trim tool and paint tray system for use in dispensing paint, the system comprising: a trim tool having a paint applicator to apply paint to a surface to be painted and at least one edge guard to shield adjacent surfaces that are to remain free of paint from the applicator; and a paint tray having a paint-receiving well and at least one slot free of paint, wherein the paint tray receives the trim tool such that the paint applicator is received in the paint well to charge the paint applicator with paint and the edge guard is received in the slot so the edge guard remains free of paint. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the trim tool comprises a tool body that receives the paint applicator and a handle extending from the tool body, wherein the tool body has a pair of extendable wings, each extendable wing comprising one of the at least one edge guards such that the edge guards are positioned along the lateral sides of the trim tool to shield adjacent surfaces from the paint applicator. 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the edge guards contain guide wheels that roll along adjacent surface so that the trim tool glides over the adjacent surfaces. 4. The system of claim 2, wherein the handle is rotatably connected to the tool body such that the handle can be rotated 180 degrees with respect to the tool body so that the trim tool can be used against left or right-oriented trim and have the paint applicator abut the trim. 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the paint applicator comprises at least one paint roller rotatably mounted on a mounting platform. 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the paint applicator comprises first and second paint rollers, with the second paint roller positioned behind the first paint roller. 7. The system of claim 5, wherein the paint applicator further comprises an edge pad, wherein the edge pad is affixed to the platform along an outer length thereof and applies paint in a gap between the adjacent surface and the paint roller. 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the edge pad extends slightly ahead and slightly behind first and second paint rollers. 9. The system of claim 2, wherein the trim tool comprises a latching mechanism affixing the mounting platform to the tool body and an actuator having a quick-release mechanism that detaches the platform from the tool body. 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the latching mechanism comprising a pair of docking catches extending upward from the mounting platform that engage detents on the tool body, and wherein the actuator has a pair of platform release squeeze tabs, which, when actuated, causes the mounting platform to be decoupled from the tool body. 11. The system of claim 2, wherein the wings are extendable between a first pulled-in position and second extended position such that the wings move in opposite directions away from the paint applicator along an axis of rotation of said paint applicator, the wings being positioned in the pulled-in condition so that the edge guard at the outer extremity of each wing is positioned adjacent the paint roller or edge pad during painting operations, and the wings being positioned in the extended position to position the edge guard in the slot in the paint tray when charging the applicator with paint. 12. The system of claim 1, wherein the paint tray has an outer tray base with raised sidewalls forming a paint receiving well, wherein the outer tray base receives a paint roller deck that has raised side portions and a middle portion in fluid communication with the well of the tray base, wherein the slots are located in the raised side portions of the roller deck with inner wall dams that prevent paint in the paint well from entering the slots. 13. The system of claim 12 wherein the paint roller deck of the paint tray has a paint limiter panel with a grate section, wherein biasing members bias the grate section of the limiter panel upwardly and away from the surface of the paint in the well, and wherein the paint roller is used to push the grate section downward to submerge the grate section into the paint a selected distance such that paint moves through openings in the grate section and comes into contact with the paint roller. 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the paint roller deck and the tray base are formed as a single polypropylene part featuring a living hinge. 15. A trim tool and paint tray system for use in dispensing paint, the system comprising: a trim tool, the trim tool comprising: a paint applicator to apply paint to a surface to be painted; a tool body that receives the paint applicator, wherein the tool body has a pair of extendable wings, each extendable wing comprising an edge guard such that the edge guards are positioned along the lateral sides of the trim tool to shield adjacent surfaces that are to remain free of paint; a handle extending from the tool body; and a paint tray defining a paint-receiving well and having a pair of slots on opposing sides of the paint receiving well, said slots being free of paint, wherein the paint tray receives the trim tool such that the paint applicator is received in the paint well to charge the paint applicator with paint and each edge guard is received in one of the slots so the edge guards remains free of paint. 16. The system of claim 15, wherein the paint applicator comprises at least one paint roller rotatably and an edge pad mounted on a mounting platform, wherein the edge pad is affixed to the platform along an outer length thereof and applies paint in a gap between an adjacent surface shielded by the adjacent edge guard and the at least one paint roller. 17. The system of claim 16 wherein the trim tool comprises a latching mechanism affixing the mounting platform to the tool body and an actuator having a quick-release mechanism that detaches the platform from the tool body, wherein the latching mechanism comprising a pair of docking catches extending upward from the mounting platform that engage detents on the tool body, and wherein the actuator has a pair of platform release squeeze tabs, which, when actuated, causes the mounting platform to be decoupled from the tool body. 18. The system of claim 15, wherein the wings are extendable between a first pulled-in position and second extended position, the wings being positioned in the pulled-in condition so that the edge guard at the outer extremity of each wing is positioned adjacent the paint roller or edge pad during painting operations, and the wings being positioned in the extended position to position the edge guard in the slot in the paint tray when charging the applicator with paint. 19. The system of claim 15, wherein the paint tray has an outer tray base with raised sidewalls forming a paint receiving well, wherein the outer tray base receives a paint roller deck that has raised side portions and a middle portion in fluid communication with the well of the tray base, wherein the slots are located in the raised side portions of the roller deck, and wherein the paint roller deck of the paint tray has a paint limiter panel with a grate section, wherein biasing members bias the grate section of the limiter panel upwardly and away from the surface of the paint in the well, and wherein the paint roller is used to push the grate section downward to submerge the grate section into the paint a selected distance such that paint moves through openings in the grate section and comes into contact with the paint roller. 20. A method for charging a trim tool with paint from a paint-receiving well in a paint tray, the trim tool comprising a rotatable paint applicator to apply paint to a surface to be painted and a tool body that receives the paint applicator, wherein the tool body has at least one extendable wing comprising an edge guard, such that the edge guard is positioned to shield an adjacent surface that is to remain free of paint, and the paint tray has a paint-receiving well and at least one slot free of paint, the method comprising: extending the at least one wing to an extended outward configuration such that the at least one wing moves away from the rotatable paint application along the axis of rotation of said paint applicator; docking the trim tool in the paint tray such that the paint applicator is received in the well and the at least one edge guard is received in the at least one paint-free slot; moving the trim tool in the paint tray to charge the applicator with paint while the at least one edge guard tracks in the slot so that the edge guard remains free of paint; removing the trim tool from the paint tray; and retracting the at least one wing to a pulled-in configuration so that the edge guard is adjacent the paint applicator.