Tool for setting up and applying pressure sensitive graphic materials

Claim 1

A tool to aid in applying a film, one side of the film being coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive and protected, initially, by a removable backing, in overlying adhering relationship to a display surface, comprising: (a) a guide element having an aperture and a through passageway with forward and rearward branches which extend generally laterally in opposite directions from the aperture and which communicate therewith, the aperture being adapted to receive a section of the film which has been stripped of its backing and the forward branch being adapted to receive a section of the backing which has been separated from the film; (b) a support member which extends generally laterally from an outer edge of the aperture and which overhangs an entrance to the rearward branch, the entrance being distal from said outer edge of the aperture, the support member having a transparent region projecting beyond at least one wall of the rearward branch a distance substantially greater than the length of the through passageway, so that a leading portion of the side of said film lacking adhesive coating can be guided onto said transparent region with the side of said portion which is coated with the adhesive being directed away from said region; and (c) means connected to the support member for holding the adhesive coated side of said portion out of contact with the display surface when the film, clinging to said region because of an electrostatic charge spontaneously generated on the film when its backing is removed, is interposed between said region and the display surface, so that premature contact therewith is prevented and the film can be prepositioned with respect to the display surface.