Article and method for protecting surfaces

Abstract

Paint once dropped, dripped, or spilt onto a drop cloth still presents an issue to painters in that it may be further dripped or spilt onto the surfaces and/or objects being protected when moved or removed. Likewise a drop cloth on the floor does not stop the wet paint getting picked up and re-deposited onto the floor in areas not protected. These instances arise as the paint or other materials being painted take time to dry. Further, where the paint is thick then unlike the surface being painted where the paint “dries” completely the paint drop or spill has a “skin” formed leaving liquid paint beneath. Embodiments of the invention accelerate the paint “drying” process and allow thicker paint drops for example to dehydrate, coagulate, or form solid materials thereby reducing the instances of subsequent paint transfer from the drop cloth to other surfaces and/or objects.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.