Mechanically tensioned wall patch

Abstract

This invention is an apparatus for repairing a hole in a surface with an adhesive mesh repair patch that is mechanically tensioned inward by a tensioning pin that is attached to a slat, and a method of using the same.

1 . A surface repair patch comprising:
 a patch;   a tension pin; and   wherein said patch is affixed to and substantially covers a front side of a hole in a surface;   wherein said tension pin has a head end and a free end;   wherein said head end of said tension pin is attached to said patch;   wherein said free end of said tension pin is attached to an interior structure within said hole, such that said head end is pulled toward said interior structure, which causes said patch to inwardly indent.   
     
     
         2 . The surface repair patch of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a slat;   wherein said slat is inserted into said hole and is affixed to a back side of said surface on an outer edge of said hole;   wherein said free end of said tension pin is attached to said slat such that said head end is pulled toward said slat, which causes said patch to inwardly indent.   
     
     
         3 . The surface repair patch of  claim 2 , wherein said slat has one or more apertures; and
 wherein said free end is attached to said slat by inserting said free end into said one or more apertures.   
     
     
         4 . The surface repair patch of  claim 3 , further comprising a plurality of slat connectors;
 wherein said plurality of slat connectors are slidably connected to said slat and are slidably adjustable along a length of said slat;   wherein said slat connectors are used to affix said slat to said back side of said surface on said outer edge of said hole.   
     
     
         5 . The surface repair patch of  claim 4 , wherein said patch is a fiberglass thread mesh repair patch that is adhesively affixed to said front side of said hole. 
     
     
         6 . The surface repair patch of  claim 5 , wherein said slat is plastic and is scored. 
     
     
         7 . The surface repair patch of  claim 4 , wherein said one or more apertures have one or more pawls;
 wherein said tension pin has a plurality of teeth;   wherein said plurality of teeth of said tension pin ratchet past said one or more pawls of said one or more apertures; and   wherein said tension pin is prevented from sliding back out of said one or more apertures by said one or more pawls.   
     
     
         8 . The surface repair patch of  claim 4 , wherein said tension pin has one or more nodes;
 wherein said one or more nodes of said tension pin slide through said one or apertures such that said tension pin is restricted from sliding back out of said one or more apertures.   
     
     
         9 . The surface repair patch of  claim 2 , wherein said tension pin is a screw and wherein said slat is wood. 
     
     
         10 . The surface repair patch of  claim 2 , wherein a drywall compound is applied to said patch. 
     
     
         11 . The surface repair patch of  claim 2 , wherein said surface is a drywall. 
     
     
         12 . A drywall mesh repair patch comprising:
 a patch;   a tension pin;   a slat;   two slat connectors;   wherein said two slat connectors are slidably connected to said slat and are slidably adjustable along a length of said slat;   wherein said slat is inserted into a hole in a drywall surface and wherein said slat connectors are adhesively affixed to said back side of said surface on an outer edge of said hole;   wherein said patch is a fiberglass thread mesh repair patch;   wherein said patch is adhesively affixed to and substantially covers a front side of said hole;   wherein said tension pin has a head end, a free end, and a plurality of teeth;   wherein said slat has one or more apertures;   wherein said one or more apertures have one or more pawls;   wherein said head end of said tension pin is attached to said patch;   wherein said free end of said tension pin is inserted into said one or more apertures and wherein said plurality of teeth of said tension pin ratchet past said one or more pawls of said one or more apertures;   wherein said tension pin is prevented from sliding back out of said one or more apertures by said one or more pawls; and   wherein said head end is pulled toward said slat as said free end is inserted into said one or more apertures, which causes said patch to inwardly indent; and   wherein a drywall compound is applied to said indented patch.   
     
     
         13 . A method of applying a repair patch to a hole in a surface, comprising the steps of:
 affixing a slat to a back side of said surface on an outer edge of said hole;   affixing a patch to a front side of said hole;   providing a tension pin, wherein said tension pin has a head end and a free end;   attaching said head end of said tension pin to said patch;   attaching said free end of said tension pin to said slat;   using said tension pin to mechanically indent said patch toward said slat.   
     
     
         14 . The method of applying a repair patch to a hole in a surface of  claim 13 , wherein said slat has one or more apertures; and
 wherein said free end is attached to said slat by inserting said free end into said one or more apertures.   
     
     
         15 . The method of applying a repair patch to a hole in a surface of  claim 14 , wherein said slat is further comprised of a first slat connector and a second slat connector;
 wherein said first slat connector and said second slat connector are slidably connected to said slat and are slidably adjustable along a length of said slat;   wherein said slat connectors are used to affix slat to said back side of said surface on an outer edge of said hole;   sliding said first slat connector and said second slat connector to opposite ends of said slat so that said slat connectors are spaced just wider than said hole;   affixing said first slat connector and said second slat connector to said back side of said surface on said outer edge of said hole.   
     
     
         16 . The method of applying a repair patch to a hole in a surface of  claim 15 , wherein said one or more apertures have one or more pawls;
 wherein said tension pin has a plurality of teeth;   inserting said tension pin into said one or more apertures such that said plurality of teeth of said tension pin ratchet past said one or more pawls of said one or more apertures; and   wherein said tension pin is prevented from sliding back out of said one or more apertures by said one or more pawls.   
     
     
         17 . The method of applying a repair patch to a hole in a surface of  claim 16 , further comprising the steps of:
 indenting and tensioning said patch towards said slat by pushing said tension pin into said one or more apertures.   
     
     
         18 . The method of applying a repair patch to a hole in a surface of  claim 17 , wherein said patch is a flat fiberglass mesh repair patch. 
     
     
         19 . The method of applying a repair patch to a hole in a surface of  claim 14 , wherein said tension pin has a one or more nodes;
 inserting said tension pin into said one or more apertures such that said one or more nodes of said tension pin slide past said one or more apertures; and   wherein said tension pin is restricted from sliding back out of said one or more apertures.   
     
     
         20 . The method of applying a repair patch to a hole in a surface of  claim 19  further comprising the steps of:
 indenting and tensioning said patch towards said slat by pushing said tension pin into said one or more apertures; and 
 applying a drywall compound to indented and tensioned patch.