Apparatus for applying a masking element

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for applying a masking element adjacent a wall in a predetermined pattern. The masking element application apparatus includes first and second longitudinal members positioned at a predetermined distance from one another adjacent the wall and a dispenser for dispensing the masking element. The dispenser is carried laterally between said first and second longitudinal members and is slidable along said first and second longitudinal members from a first position to a second position. In operation, an end of the masking element may be attached to the wall when said dispenser is in said first longitudinal position and the masking element may be dispensed longitudinally along the wall by slidably moving said dispenser from said first position to said second position, thereby applying the masking element adjacent the wall in the predetermined pattern.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An apparatus for applying a masking element onto a surface in a predetermined pattern, said apparatus comprising: 
       a first longitudinal member and a second longitudinal member, said first and second longitudinal members for being spaced apart from one another and positioned adjacent the surface; and  
       a dispenser assembly for dispensing the masking element, said dispenser assembly carried laterally between said first and second longitudinal members, said dispenser assembly being slidable along said first and a second longitudinal members from a first position to a second position, wherein said dispenser assembly includes a plurality of dispenser adapters for carrying a plurality of rolls of the masking element;  
       whereby an end of the masking element may be attached to the surface when said dispenser assembly is in said first longitudinal position and the masking element may be dispensed longitudinally along the surface by slidably moving said dispenser assembly from said first position to said second position, thereby applying the masking element onto the surface in a predetermined pattern.  
     
     
       2. The apparatus for applying a masking element of  claim 1 , wherein said dispenser assembly includes a plurality of dispenser adapters for carrying rolls for creating a predetermined pattern. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus for applying a masking element of  claim 1 , wherein said dispenser assembly includes a plurality of dispenser adapters for carrying rolls of a masking element comprising an adhesive tape. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus for applying a masking element of  claim 1 , wherein the length of said first and second longitudinal members is adjustable for generally matching a dimension of the surface. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus for applying a masking element of  claim 1 , wherein said dispenser assembly further includes a blade assembly for severing the masking element at a desired longitudinal position. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus for applying a masking element onto a surface in a predetermined pattern, said apparatus comprising: 
       a first longitudinal member and a second longitudinal member, said first and second longitudinal members for being spaced apart from one another and positioned adjacent the surface; and  
       a dispenser assembly for dispensing the masking element, said dispenser assembly carried laterally between said first and second longitudinal members, said dispenser assembly being slidable along said first and second longitudinal members from a first position to a second position, said dispenser assembly including a plurality of dispenser adapters for carrying a plurality of rolls of the masking element and a pressure roller for applying pressure to the masking element to facilitate adhesion of the masking element to the surface;  
       whereby an end of the masking element may be attached to the surface when said dispenser assembly is in said first longitudinal position and the masking element may be dispensed longitudinally along the surface by slidably moving said dispenser assembly from said first position to said second position, thereby applying the masking element onto the surface in the predetermined pattern.  
     
     
       7. The apparatus for applying a masking element of  claim 6 , wherein said dispenser assembly includes alignment guides for facilitating the positioning of said plurality of rolls for creating a predetermined pattern. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus for applying a masking element of  claim 6 , wherein said dispenser adapters are adapted for carrying rolls of a masking element comprising an adhesive tape. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus for applying a masking element of  claim 6 , wherein the length of said first and second longitudinal members is adjustable for generally matching a dimension of the surface. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus for applying a masking element of  claim 6 , wherein said dispenser assembly further includes a blade assembly for severing the masking element at a desired longitudinal position. 
     
     
       11. A method for aligning and applying a plurality of masking elements onto a wall in a predetermined pattern, said method comprising the steps of: 
       providing a masking element applicator having first and second columns slidably carrying a plurality of masking element dispensers therebetween;  
       positioning said first and second columns adjacent the wall such that said first and second columns extend generally from the top of said wall to the bottom of said wall;  
       attaching a portion of the masking element from each of said masking element dispensers to the wall; and  
       sliding said plurality of masking element dispensers from a position adjacent the bottom of the wall to a second position adjacent the bottom of the wall to a second position adjacent the top of the wall so that said masking elements extend vertically and linearly along the wall.  
     
     
       12. The method for aligning and positioning a plurality of masking elements of  claim 11 , further including the step of applying pressure to the masking elements to facilitate adhesion of the masking elements to the wall. 
     
     
       13. The method for aligning and positioning a plurality of masking elements of  claim 11 , further including the step of repositioning said first and second columns to an adjacent section of the wall following application of the masking elements. 
     
     
       14. The method for aligning and positioning a plurality of masking elements of  claim 11 , further including the step of repositioning said first and second columns to an adjacent section of the wall following application of the masking elements. 
     
     
       15. The method for aligning and positioning a plurality of masking elements of  claim 11 , further including the step of adjusting the length of said first and second columns. 
     
     
       16. The method for aligning and positioning a plurality of masking elements of  claim 11 , further including the step of severing the masking elements at a desired height. 
     
     
       17. An apparatus for applying a masking element onto a surface in a predetermined pattern, said apparatus comprising: 
       a first longitudinal member and a second longitudinal member, said first and second longitudinal members for being spaced apart from one another and positioned adjacent the surface; and  
       a dispenser assembly for dispensing the masking element, said dispenser assembly carried laterally between said first and second longitudinal members, said dispenser assembly being slidable along said first and second longitudinal members from a first position to a second position, wherein said dispenser assembly includes a leveling indicator to aid in the alignment of said dispenser assembly;  
       whereby an end of the masking element may be attached to the surface when said dispenser assembly is in said first longitudinal position and the masking element may be dispensed longitudinally along the surface by slidably moving said dispenser assembly from said first position to said second position, thereby applying the masking element onto the surface in the predetermined pattern.  
     
     
       18. A method for aligning and applying an adhesive tape onto a wall in a predetermined pattern, said method comprising the steps of: 
       providing an adhesive tape applicator having first and second columns slidably carrying a masking element dispenser assembly therebetween;  
       positioning said first and second columns adjacent the wall such that said first and second columns extend generally from the top of said wall to the bottom of said wall;  
       attaching a portion of the adhesive tape from said adhesive tape dispenser assembly to the wall; and  
       sliding said adhesive tape dispenser assembly from a position adjacent the bottom of the wall to a second position adjacent the top of the wall so that said adhesive tape extends vertically and linearly along the wall.  
     
     
       19. A dispenser assembly for dispensing a masking element to a surface in a predetermined manner, said dispenser assembly comprising a plurality of dispenser adapters for carrying a plurality of rolls of said masking element, said dispenser assembly adapted to attach an end of said masking element to the surface when said dispenser assembly is in a first position and to dispense said masking element in a longitudinal manner along the surface such that said masking elements from each said dispenser adapter are displaced from one another as said dispenser assembly is moving from said first position to a second position, whereby said masking element is applied to the surface in a predetermined manner. 
     
     
       20. The dispenser assembly of  claim 19  further comprising alignment guides for facilitating the positioning of said plurality of rolls for creating the predetermined pattern. 
     
     
       21. The dispenser assembly of  claim 19  wherein said plurality of dispenser adapters for carrying rolls comprises an adhesive tape. 
     
     
       22. The dispenser assembly of  claim 19  further comprising a blade assembly for severing said masking element at a desired longitudinal position. 
     
     
       23. A dispenser assembly for dispensing a masking element onto a surface in a predetermined manner, said dispenser assembly comprising a plurality of dispenser adapters for carrying a plurality of rolls of said masking element and a pressure roller for applying pressure to said masking element to facilitate adhesion of the masking element to the surface, said dispenser assembly adapted to attach an end of said masking element to the surface when said dispenser assembly is in a first position and to dispense said masking element in a longitudinal manner along the surface such that said masking elements from each said dispenser adapter are displaced from one another as said dispenser assembly is moving from said first position to a second position, whereby said masking element is applied to the surface in a predetermined manner. 
     
     
       24. The dispenser assembly of  claim 23  further comprising alignment guides for facilitating the positioning of said plurality of rolls for creating the predetermined pattern. 
     
     
       25. The dispenser assembly of  claim 23  wherein said plurality of dispenser adapters for carrying rolls comprises an adhesive tape. 
     
     
       26. The dispenser assembly of  claim 23  further comprising a blade assembly for severing said masking element at a desired longitudinal position. 
     
     
       27. A method for aligning and applying a masking element onto a surface in a predetermined pattern, said method comprising the steps of: 
       
         providing a plurality of masking element dispensers adjacent a surface;  
       
       
         attaching a portion of the masking element from each of said masking element dispensers to the surface such that said masking elements will be displaced from one another when applied to the surface; and  
       
       
         moving said plurality of masking element dispensers from a first position on the surface to a second position on the surface such that said masking elements extend substantially linearly along the surface. 
       
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 27  further comprising the step of applying pressure to the masking element to facilitate adhesion of the masking element to the surface. 
     
     
       29. The method of  claim 27  further comprising the step of severing the masking element at a desired height. 
     
     
       30. A dispenser assembly for dispensing a masking element to a surface in a predetermined manner, said dispenser assembly comprising a plurality of dispenser adapters for carrying a plurality of rolls of said masking element and a leveling indicator to aid in the alignment of said dispenser assembly, said dispenser assembly adapted to attach an end of said masking element to the surface when said dispenser assembly is in a first position and to dispense said masking element in a longitudinal manner along the surface as said dispenser assembly is moving from said first position to a second position, whereby said masking element is applied to the surface in a predetermined manner. 
     
     
       31. A method for aligning and applying an adhesive tape onto a surface in a predetermined manner, said method comprising the steps of: 
       
         attaching to the surface a portion of the adhesive tape from a plurally of dispenser adapters of an adhesive tape dispenser assembly such that said adhesive tape from each said dispenser adapter will be displaced from one another when applied to the surface; and  
       
       
         moving said adhesive tape dispenser assembly from a first position on the surface to a second position on the surface such that said adhesive tape extends substantially linearly along the surface.