Paint shields for covers of wall mounted controls

A paint shield for protecting a wall-mounted cover and at least one wall-mounted control normally covered by the cover, the wall-mounted control having a manual control portion extending through and projecting outwardly of the wall-mounted cover, said paint shield comprising:

• a first section forming a cover plate configured to peripherally extend over and cover a peripheral part of the wall-mounted cover, said first section having an opening therein defined by an inner peripheral surface on said first section, said opening having a center axis which extends substantially a right angle to said first section;
• an intermediate connection;
• a second section connected with said first section by said intermediate connection;
• said second section extending axially through said first section opening for axial movements relative thereto;
• said second section having a closed end and an open end, said ends being axially spaced apart, said second section defining between said ends a space which that operatively receives the manual control of the at least one wall-mounted control extending through said first section opening in coaxial relation to said axis of said first section opening;
• a flange formed on said second section open end and extending peripherally outward to provide an outward peripheral flange surface and another flange surface extending between said one open end and said outward peripheral surface, said another flange surface being the side of said flange extending axially away from said second section, said flange being in a plane which is substantially perpendicular to said first section opening axis, said another flange surface having an adhesive thereon which is operable to engage and hold said flange into engagement with the wall-mounted cover when said second section is moved axially further through said first section opening to so operatively engage said flange with said wall-mounted cover;
• said intermediate connection having spring arrangement biasing said second section in opposite axial directions and acting on said first and second sections to have an at-rest relative axial position wherein said spring arrangement holds said second section in an axially central at-rest position relative to said first section,
• said spring means arrangement being able to axially expand and contract to permit said second section to be moved relative to said first section against the spring force of said spring arrangement acting on said second section and tending to return said second section to its central axial position, said spring arrangement operatively allowing said second section adhesively-coated flange to adhesively engage the wall-mounted cover plate upon sufficient axial movement of said second section flange toward the wall-mounted cover plate, and that adhesive engagement then holding said second section in that axial position until being deliberately pulled away from the wall-mounted cover plate for removal of said paint shield from covering engagement with said wall-mounted cover plate.

A paint shield for shielding a wall-mounted device and its cover plate installed on a wall while the adjacent parts of the wall are being painted, said paint shield comprising:

• a first member selectively being fit over the device to be shielded and also its cover plate;
• a second member movably mounted on and in said first member to be movable within said first member on an axis which is perpendicular to said first member;
• and a third member connected to both said first and second members acting between said first and second members to seal the space between them during said movements of said second member relative to said first member;
• said second member also having a chamber which selectively fit over, receives and protects any part of the device that projects away from the wall and beyond the device's cover plate against paint being applied to the adjacent parts of the wall;
• said second member further having thereon elements which are selectively temporarily secured to the device's cover plate when said second member is moved toward engagement with the cover plate, securing said paint shield to the device's cover plate so that it protects the device and its cover plate from paint while the adjacent parts of the wall are being painted;
• said elements selectively removable from securing engagement with the device's cover plate by moving said second member away from the device's cover plate and the wall, releasing said paint shield so that said paint shield may be removed and reused when desired.