Paint masking for corners

Abstract

A paint mask particularly adapted for masking comer areas of a demarcation zone to facilitate painting of an area of a workpiece disposed on the other side of the demarcation zone is formed of a thin, flexible sheet having opposite faces. The paint mask includes a first leg and a second leg that are generally rectangular in shape, and the legs intersect to form a right angle adapted for masking a corner and adjacent area. The bottom side of the paint mask which contacts the surface to be masked includes an adhesive for adhering the mask to the workpiece. The top side has release means for releasing stacked paint masks from each other.

Having thus described the invention, it is claimed:  
     
         1 . A paint mask for masking a corner area adjacent workpieces to be painted, comprising: 
 a thin, flexible sheet having opposite bottom and top faces, said sheet being L-shaped and having first and second legs that are generally rectangular in shape and at right angles to one another.    
     
     
         2 . The paint mask as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said sheet includes an adhesive on said bottom face.  
     
     
         3 . The paint mask as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said sheet includes a non-adhesive area on said bottom face.  
     
     
         4 . The paint mask as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said top face includes release means and a plurality of said paint mask sheets are stacked upon each other with the adhesive on one sheet engaging the top face of the underlying sheet.  
     
     
         5 . The paint mask as defined in  claim 2 , wherein a plurality of said paint mask sheets are stacked upon one another to form a paint mask pad.  
     
     
         6 . The paint mask as defined in  claim 5 , wherein said top surface of each sheet includes release means and said adhesive on the bottom face of each paint mask sheet releasably engages the top face of the adjacent underlying paint mask sheet.  
     
     
         7 . The paint mask as defined in  claim 6 , wherein each said sheet includes a non-adhesive area on said bottom face.  
     
     
         8 . The paint mask as defined in  claim 6 , wherein a pair of said paint mask pads are oriented relative to each other and nestled together to provide a package in which the L-shaped sheets are in a square configuration.  
     
     
         9 . The paint mask as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said first leg has a first width and said second leg has a second width equal to said first width.  
     
     
         10 . A paint mask for masking a corner area adjacent workpieces to be painted, comprising: 
 a thin, flexible sheet having opposite bottom and top faces and a first and a second outer edge, said first and second outer edges intersecting at an angle of 90°.    
     
     
         11 . The paint mask as defined in  claim 10 , wherein said sheet includes a first and a second inner edge, said first and said second inner edges intersecting at an angle of 90°.  
     
     
         12 . The paint mask as defined in  claim 11 , wherein said sheet includes adhesive disposed on said bottom face extending from said outer edges toward said inner edges.  
     
     
         13 . The paint mask as defined in  claim 12 , wherein said sheet includes non-adhesive area on said bottom face between said adhesive and said inner edges.  
     
     
         14 . A method for masking an area adjacent workpieces to be painted, said workpieces providing at least two opposite right angle corners therebetween, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a plurality of thin, flexible sheets each having opposite bottom and top and a first and a second outer edge intersecting at 90°;    adhering one of said sheets in the area of each of the opposite corners between the workpieces and adhering strips of masking tape in the area between the sheets in the opposite corners.