Patent Application
20140331432
The present invention relates to a tool for use in spreading an adhesive material on a flat surface and particularly to tile trowels or spreaders used to apply adhesive or mortar for tiles, such as ceramic tiles and/or clinker slabs.
When ceramic tiles and/or clinker slabs are laid there is normally used an adhesive or self-levelling adhesive mortar comprising a highly viscous substance that is applied to the flat surface that eventually will be covered with the tiles. After laying the tiles the adhesive is hardened and the tiles are fixed to the adhesive.
The laying of tiles normally is performed by a tradesperson distributing an even height of adhesive on a section of the surface upon which the tiles are to be laid (generally a floor). Then tiles are laid on the adhesive material and more adhesive material is distributed on a further section of the surface. It is normally advantageous to lay the tiles step by step. First of all there is a desire to lay tiles without stepping into the distributed adhesive material and secondly the tiles have to be laid before the adhesive is hardened.
When the mortar is applied a so called tile trowel can be used. It comprises a notched metal blade that is provided with a handle. When the tradesperson has applied an amount of the mortar on the surface upon which the tiles are to be laid the tile trowel is combed over the mortar while being pressed towards the surface. As a result the tile trowel spreads the mortar at an even height and ridges or strings are produced in the mortar. The ridges will improve the adhesion between the mortar and the tile.
When such a tile trowel is used there is much load on the tradesperson who usually has to work in a bent down position to be able to distribute the mortar evenly. When tiles are laid on larger areas further problems will arise relating to inconsistently applied mortar.
A more developed spreader or tile trowel is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,308,370. That tile trowel comprises a comb portion and two flange portions extending from it in perpendicular directions. The comb portion has a plurality of indentations along a bottom longitudinal edge. A space defined by said comb portion and said flange portions can hold a manageable volume of adhesive. Said flange portions are provided with handles. The handles are used when the tile trowel is combed to distribute the adhesive on a surface. On the outside of each of the flange portions there is provided a gauge surface that will engage and be guided by a guide arranged on tiles laid.
The present invention is directed to solve problems and drawbacks of prior art devices by a tile trowel which is formed to facilitate and to maintain a continuous movement during the laying of tiles, also along tiles already laid without any need for any additional means for guiding the tile trowel. Preferably at least one side portion extending from a comb portion is provided with or formed with an oblique section. Further embodiments are indicated in sub claims below.
In order that the manner in which the above recited and other advantages and objects of the invention are obtained will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings.
Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:
With reference to
Said tool 10 also comprises a handle 14 extending in parallel with said comb portion 13 to facilitate the use of the tool 10. Said handle 14 can be connected to each of said side portions 11, 12 and/or to the comb portion 13. In various embodiments the handle 14 can be a section bent in a perpendicular direction from the rectangular surface of the comb portion 13. In the embodiment shown in the drawings the handle 14 extends along the full length of the comb section 13. The shape and material of the handle 14 will allow the tradesperson work with and hold the tool 10 with ease. In the embodiment of the tool 10 shown in the drawings the handle 14 is formed with rounded corners.
In the embodiment of the tool 10 shown in
In the embodiment shown in
A further embodiment of the tool 10 is shown in
The upper sides of the comb portion 13 and the side portions 11, 12, or the handle 14, can be provided with a moulding, such as a rubber moulding, for minimizing injuries and for facilitating the handling of the tool 10. In various embodiments the tool 10 is provided also with handles and other means suitable for gripping.
In various embodiments said side portions 11, 12 and said comb portion 13 are formed by one single sheet of metal, such as stainless steel, which is bent to a suitable shape. As a result said tool 10 is readily cleaned after use. The width of the tool 10 preferably is adapted to the size of the tiles and to the area that will be covered with tiles and can be about 600 mm, which is a size that can be used for different tiles of standard sizes. The size of the tool 10 can also be smaller for instance when smaller floor areas are to be covered.
As shown in
While certain illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described in particularity, it will be understood that various other modifications will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the scope of the claims appended hereto be limited to the description set forth herein but rather that the claims be construed as encompassing all equivalents of the present invention which are apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1350580-5 | May 2013 | SE | national |
