The present invention relates to a pasting table and particularly but not exclusively to a pasting table for pasting wallpaper.

Background to the Invention

It is known to provide a folding table or a trestle table for pasting wallpaper. In use, a length of wallpaper is unrolled by hand on top of the table and is cut off the roll using scissors. Often the paper may tear, particularly if it is not securely held whilst being cut and ideally at least two people are required to roll out the paper, measure it, cut it to length and apply paste. Furthermore, the roll of paper often is placed or falls onto the floor, causing damage to the edges of the paper. The pasting tables also do not provide anywhere for placing or storage of tools, and tools may be scattered about the workplace.

It is an object of the invention to provide a pasting table which reduces or substantially obviates the aforementioned problems.

Statement of Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a pasting table comprising a tabletop having a substantially planar surface for supporting a piece of wallpaper to be pasted, at least two folding legs mounted to the underside of the tabletop, the legs being movable between a supporting position for supporting the tabletop in use and a folded position, and a support member disposed proximate one end of the tabletop adapted to support a roll of wallpaper from its core, the support member being movable between an operative position in which the support member is disposed parallel and spaced from an end of the tabletop and a stowed position in which the support member is disposed substantially proximate and beneath the tabletop.

The pasting table is advantageous because a roll of wallpaper can be supported from its core proximate one end of the table and a length of paper can be rolled out across the tabletop. In use, this reduces the risk of damage to the roll of paper. Furthermore, it is possible for one person to hold and roll out the paper with ease.

The wallpaper support member may be a circular bar supported from its respective ends.

The wallpaper support member may be movable, enabling a roll of wallpaper to be mounted and dismounted from the support member.

A hinge may be disposed proximate one end of the support member and a joint may be formed proximate the other end of the support member, the joint being free to move in an upward direction, thereby enabling at least a portion of the support to be hinged upwardly enabling a roll of wallpaper to be mounted and dismounted from the support member.

The support member may be mounted on a pair of support rails extending from one end of the tabletop.

The support rails may be slidingly mounted in the end of the tabletop and may be movable between an operative position in which the wallpaper support member is disposed parallel and spaced from an end of the tabletop and a stowed position in which the wallpaper support member is disposed substantially proximate and beneath the tabletop.

A rotary cutter set in a cutter block may be mounted on an arm extending across the tabletop.

The rotary cutter may extend through a slot in the surface of the tabletop and may be movable along the arm for cutting a piece of wallpaper resting across the slot. Advantageously the cutter enables a piece of wallpaper to be cut to length cleanly, in a straight cut perpendicular to the length of the roll. The arm supporting the rotary cutter may be pivotally mounted to the tabletop at one end thereof. The other end of the arm supporting the rotary cutter may be retained in a support block.

Advantageously, this enables the rotary cutter and support arm to be hinged upwardly away from the upper surface of the tabletop, thereby allowing wallpaper to be unrolled over the tabletop unimpeded.

A drawer may be mounted in the other end of the tabletop for storage of tools. The drawer may be left open in use of the pasting table, thus provided a useful place to rest tools when not in use

A measuring strip may be disposed along one edge of the tabletop. The measuring tape enables paper to un-rolled onto the table and measured at the same time, thus obviating the need for a separate tape measure.

A handle may be disposed on one edge of the tabletop for carrying the tabletop when in a folded position.

The tabletop may be substantially rectangular in shape and may be hinged substantially midway along its length, enabling the pasting table to be folded in half.

The term "wallpaper" is intended to be broad in scope and is intended to include any type of paper suitable for wall hanging.

Description of the Drawings

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a pasting table of the invention in an operative position; Figure 2 shows a schematic perspective view of the pasting table of Figure 1 in a closed position, for storage and transit;

Figure 3 shows a schematic perspective view of a wall paper support member of the pasting table of Figure 1 in an open position for receiving a roll of wallpaper;

Figure 4 shows schematic perspective view of part of the pasting table of Figure 1, with a roll of wallpaper supported on the wallpaper support member and the rotary cutter support arm in an open position for allowing paper to be rolled across the tabletop;

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a drawer in the end of the pasting table of Figure 1; and

Figure 6 shows a schematic perspective view of one of the legs of the pasting table of Figure 1 being folded.

Description of Preferred Embodiment(s)

Referring firstly to Figures 1 and 2, a pasting table is indicated generally at 10. The pasting table 10 includes a tabletop 11 formed from two members 12, 14. The two members 12, 14 form halves of the tabletop and are joined together by a hinge disposed underneath the tabletop, such that the tabletop can be folded to a position with the members 12, 14 disposed back to back, as shown in Figure 2. A first U- shaped leg 16 is disposed at one end of the pasting table 10 and is attached to the member 12, and a second U-shaped leg 18 is disposed at the other end of the pasting table 10 and is attached to the member 14. The legs 16, 18 are pivotally mounted to the tabletop and can be locked in a supporting position by diagonal bracing arms 20, 22 respectively.

A wallpaper support member 24 for supporting a roll of wallpaper from its core is mounted to the distil end of the tabletop along one edge of the member 12. Referring also to Figures 3 and 4, the wallpaper support member 24 is supported at it's distil ends by runners or sliders 26, 28 which slide out from the underside of the tabletop member 12. The wallpaper support member comprises three portions, a first portion 30, which is rigidly fixed to the sliding member 26, a central portion 32, which is pivotally mounted to the fixed portion 30, and a third portion 34 which is rigidly fixed to the slider 28. The distil end of the first portion 30, away from the slider 26 is provided with a vertical slot running there-through, which receives a tenon formed on a first end of the second portion 32. A pivot 36 allows the second portion 32 to pivot freely with respect to the first portion 30. The third portion 34 is machined with a partial slot running vertically there-through, which receives a half-lap tenon formed on the other end of the second portion 32. When the end of the portion 32 is received in the partial slot of the third portion 34, it is prevented from downward movement, but can freely move in and out of the slot in an upward direction as indicated by arrow A, as shown in Figure 3. When the second portion 32 of the wallpaper support member is pivoted upwards, as shown in Figure 3, then a roll of wallpaper can be pushed onto the portion 32, and the portion 32 can be allowed to drop back to the position shown in Figure 4. In this position, the wallpaper can be unrolled, and is free to rotate on the wallpaper support member 24.

A support arm 38 is pivotally mounted at one end to a support block 40 extending upwardly from one corner of the tabletop member 12 and is supported at the other end in an open cradle support block 42 positioned at an opposite corner of the tabletop member 12. A sliding cutter block 44 is arranged to freely slide on the arm 38 and houses a rotary cutter, the blade of which extends from the underside of the cutter block 44. A slot 46 is disposed in the tabletop surface directly underneath the arm 38, such that the rotary cutter passes through the slot as the cutter block 44 is moved along the support arm 38. A piece of wallpaper 48, as shown in Figure 4, resting on top of the tabletop 11 and over the slot, is cut in a straight line parallel with the central axis of the wallpaper support member and wallpaper roll thereon, as the cutter block 44 is moved from one side of the table 10 to the other. A key way (not shown) may be provided in the support arm 38, which engages with a key in the cutter block 44, thereby preventing rotation of the cutter block on the support arm 38. Alternatively, the support arm 38 may be made from a member with a non circular cross section.

Referring also to Figure 5, a plastics drawer 50 is mounted in the open end of the tabletop member 14, at the other end of the table 10 from that of the wallpaper support member 24 and cutter block 44, and is supported on sliding rails 52 (one of which can be seen) moulded into the side of the drawer 50. A cut out 54 in the end of the drawer 50 enables the drawer to be pulled out of the end of the tabletop 11. Referring also to Figure 2, a handle 56 is mounted to one edge of the tabletop member 12, and enables the pasting table 10 to be carried when in the folded positions. A measuring strip 58 is disposed along the length of the tabletop and extends across both the members 12, 14. Furthermore, a second measuring strip 60 is provided perpendicular to the measuring strip 58 and extends along the edge of the tabletop member 12, adjacent the cutter support arm 38.

In use, the pasting table 10 can be carried in folded a position as shown in Figure 2, in which the legs 16, 18 are folded into spaces underneath the respective tabletop members 12, 14. The drawer 50 is pushed into the end of the tabletop member 14, and may optionally be secured there by means of a detent. The wallpaper support member 24 is moved to a stowed position in the end of the tabletop member 12 on the sliders 26, 28.

In order to move the pasting table 10 to the operative position, the members 12, 14 are folded about their hinge to create a single planar tabletop surface, and the legs 16, 18 are extended and locked in position by the diagonal stays 22 as seen in more detail in Figure 6. The wallpaper support member 24 is then pulled from the end of the tabletop member 12 and freely extends on the sliders 26, 28. The central portion of the support member 32 is then lifted as indicated by arrow in A in Figure 3, and a roll of wallpaper can be pushed onto the free end of the support member. Once the wallpaper has been located on the support member, it may be returned to the position shown in Figure 4 for unrolling across the surface of the tabletop. If the wallpaper extends across the full width of the tabletop, then the support arm 38 of the cutting block 44 can be pivoted upwards out of the cradle support 42, and the wallpaper 44 fed underneath as shown in Figure 4. Once the paper has been unrolled across the table, then the cutter support arm 38 can be dropped back into the cradle 42 in preparation for cutting of the paper 48.

Tools, indicated generally at 62 may be located in the drawer 50, which can be extended from the end of the tabletop member 14, as desired. When extending wallpaper from the roll, the wallpaper can be measured using the measuring strip 58 extending along the length of the table. Also, if the width of the paper needs to be cut, then this can be measured using the measuring strip 60 extending across the width of the table.

The pasting table 10 is highly advantageous for all types of decorators, both professional and do it yourself enthusiasts, because the integrated wallpaper holder can support a roll of wallpaper with ease in alignment with the end of the table. The wallpaper support protects the wallpaper and prevents it from becoming torn, creased or otherwise damaged, and keeps the wallpaper in an easily accessible and memorable position.

The pasting table may be made from an aluminium frame for lightness, with tubular steel legs 16, 18 providing strength and rigidity. The hinges between the tabletop members 12, 14 may be self locking when fully extended for greater stability. The surface of the tabletop members 12, 14 may be covered with plastics, and is ideally a waterproof wipe clean and washable surface, which facilitates its cleaning. It is envisaged that the pasting table will reduce wallpaper damage, speed up the application of wallpaper, and enable a single person to easily handle the cutting and pasting of wallpaper.