This disclosure relates generally to an adjustable knockdown tool and related methods of making such a tool and using such a tool. Adjustable knockdown tool embodiments disclosed herein can include one or more features that allow an angle of a blade member of the adjustable knockdown tool to be changed relative to one or more other portions of the adjustable knockdown tool.
A knockdown tool, such as a knockdown knife, can be used to provide an aesthetically pleasing surface finish. For example, a knockdown tool can be used to flatten texture patterns by erasing trowel lines. This is often done on wall and ceiling surfaces (e.g., drywall) as a finishing step after installation and prior to curing.
However, current knockdown tools can be difficult to effectively utilize at different surfaces. For example, a knockdown tool that is suited for texture finishing at a wall surface may be difficult to utilize at a ceiling surface. Likewise, a knockdown tool that is suited for texture finishing at a ceiling surface may be difficult to utilize at a wall surface.
This disclosure, in general, describes embodiments relating to adjustable knockdown tools as well as related methods of making and using such tools. Such adjustable knockdown tool embodiments can include one or more features that allow an angle of a blade member of the adjustable knockdown tool to be changed relative to one or more other portions of the adjustable knockdown tool. Accordingly, an adjustable knockdown tool embodiment within the scope of the present disclosure can be adjusted to orient the blade member in a manner suited for a particular surface at which the adjustable knockdown tool is to be utilized. This can allow the adjustable knockdown tool embodiments within the scope of the present disclosure to be efficiently utilized at different types of surfaces by adjusting the angle of the blade member to be suited for use at each of these different surfaces.
For example, because wall and ceiling surfaces are generally located at different elevations, changing the angle of the blade member of the adjustable knockdown tool within the scope of the present disclosure can configure the adjustable knockdown tool to be efficiently used at these different elevation surfaces. On the other hand, because traditional knockdown tools lack the ability to adjust the angle of the blade member, using a traditional knockdown tool, configured for wall surface use, at a higher elevation ceiling surface can require that a very long length handle be used and that a user stand very far away from the traditional tool in order to compensate for the fixed angle of this knockdown tool's blade. This can result in a labor-intensive and inefficient finishing process. The ability of the adjustable knockdown tool within the scope of the present disclosure to orient the blade member at different angles can facilitate a more precise and efficient finishing process across different surfaces (e.g., wall and ceiling surfaces at different elevations).
One embodiment includes an adjustable knockdown tool. This adjustable knockdown tool embodiment includes a coupling member, a blade support, and an actuator. The coupling member includes a housing. The housing defines a channel extending through the housing between a first channel aperture defined at the housing and a second channel aperture defined at the housing. The housing further includes an actuator receptacle and a locking element. The locking element is located between the actuator receptacle and the channel. The locking element is movable between a locking position at which the locking element extends into the channel and a releasing position at which the locking element retracts away from the channel toward the actuator receptacle. The blade support extends through the channel. The blade support is coupled to a blade member that extends out from the blade support. The blade support is rotatable relative to the channel when the locking element is at the releasing position so as to change an angle of the blade member relative to the housing. The blade support is fixed relative to the channel when the locking element is at the locking position so as to fix the angle of the blade member relative to the housing. The actuator is configured to be coupled to the actuator receptacle. Coupling the actuator to the actuator receptacle causes the locking element to move from the releasing position to the locking position so as to fix the angle of the blade member relative to the housing.
In a further embodiment of the above adjustable knockdown tool, decoupling the actuator from the actuator receptacle causes the locking element to move from the locking position to the releasing position so as to allow the blade support to be rotated relative to the channel to change the angle of the blade member relative to the housing.
In one embodiment of the above adjustable knockdown tool, the actuator includes a handle of the adjustable knockdown tool. A first end portion of the handle can be configured to be coupled to the actuator receptacle to cause the locking element to move from the releasing position to the locking position so as to fix the angle of the blade member relative to the housing. In such an embodiment, relative rotation, between the first end portion of the handle and the actuator receptacle, in a first direction can cause the locking element to move from the releasing position to the locking position so as to fix the angle of the blade member relative to the housing. And, relative rotation, between the first end portion of the handle and the actuator receptacle, in a second direction, opposite the first direction, can cause the locking element to move from the locking position to the releasing position so as to allow the blade support to be rotated relative to the channel to change the angle of the blade member relative to the housing.
In another embodiment of the above knockdown tool, the actuator includes an adaptor that has an adaptor body. The adaptor body can define a body first end portion and a body second end portion opposite the body first end portion. The body first end portion can be configured to be coupled to the actuator receptacle to cause the locking element to move from the releasing position to the locking position so as to fix the angle of the blade member relative to the housing. The body second end portion can be configured to be coupled to a handle of an attachment tool. In such an embodiment, the body first end portion can include a first coupling mechanism configured to be coupled to the actuator receptacle. The body second end portion can include a second coupling mechanism different than the first coupling mechanism. Relative rotation between the adaptor and the actuator receptacle can be the same as that in embodiments where the handle of the adjustable knockdown tool is the actuator.
Another adjustable knockdown tool embodiment includes a coupling member, a blade support, and an actuator. The coupling member includes a housing. The housing includes an actuator receptacle and a locking element. The locking element is movable between a locking position and a releasing position. The blade support is coupled to the coupling member. The blade support carries a blade member that extends out from the blade support. The blade support is rotatable relative to the housing when the locking element is at the releasing position so as to change an angle of the blade member relative to the housing. The blade support is fixed relative to the housing when the locking element is at the locking position so as to fix the angle of the blade member relative to the housing. The actuator is configured to be coupled to the actuator receptacle. Coupling the actuator to the actuator receptacle causes the locking element to move from the releasing position to the locking position so as to fix the angle of the blade member relative to the housing. Decoupling the actuator from the actuator receptacle causes the locking element to move from the locking position to the releasing position so as to allow the blade support to be rotated relative to the channel to change the angle of the blade member relative to the housing.
The details of one or more examples are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.
The following drawings are illustrative of particular examples of the present invention and, therefore, do not limit the scope of the invention. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and are intended for use in conjunction with the explanations in the following detailed description. Examples of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings.
The following detailed description is exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides some practical illustrations for implementing examples of the present invention. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many of the noted examples have a variety of suitable alternatives.
The blade support 110 is coupled to a blade member 120 that extends out from the blade support 110. The blade support 110 defines a first blade coupling portion 111 that couples the blade member 120 to the blade support 110. In addition, in some examples, for additional support, the housing 106 can define a second blade coupling portion 107 that couples the blade member 120 to the housing 106 of the coupling member 105. As shown in the example of
The blade member 120 can include a first blade end portion 121 and a second blade end portion 122 that is opposite the first blade end portion 121. In various embodiments, the second blade end portion 122 can define a planar surface 125. In the illustrated embodiment, the second blade end portion 122 is longer than the first blade end portion 121. As shown, the first blade end portion 121 is generally coextensive in length with the blade support 110, while the second blade end portion 122 extends out beyond the ends of the blade support 110 and the first blade end portion 121. For instance, the blade member 120 can define a first side 123 and a second side 124 that is opposite the first side 123 of the blade member 120, and the second blade end portion 122 can extend between the first side 123 and the second side 124. As shown in
The first blade end portion 121 can be coupled to the blade support 110, for instance at the first blade coupling portion 111. And, in examples where the housing 106 defines the second blade coupling portion 107, the first blade end portion 121 can also be coupled to the second blade coupling portion 107. In such examples, the first blade end portion 121 can define an end surface of the blade member 120 that corresponds to the offset configuration of the first blade coupling portion 111 and the second blade coupling portion 107. Accordingly, the blade member 120 can have a recessed portion along the end surface at the first blade end portion 121 at a location corresponding to the second blade coupling portion 107.
As will be described further herein, the actuator 115 can be used to facilitate adjustment of the angle of the blade member 120. In particular, when the actuator 115 is decoupled from the housing 106 of the coupling member 105, the blade support 110 can be moved (e.g., rotated) relative to the housing 106 to change the angle of the blade member 120 relative to the housing 106. And, when the actuator 115 is coupled to the housing 106 of the coupling member 105, the blade support 110 can be fixed relative to the housing 106 to fix the angle of the blade member 120 relative to the housing 106.
When the actuator 115 is decoupled from the housing 106, the blade support 110 can be rotated relative to the housing 106 to change the angle of the blade member 120 relative to the housing 106. For instance, when the actuator 115 is decoupled from the housing 106, the blade support 110 can be rotated relative to the housing 106 to change the angle of the blade member 120, relative to the housing 106, from the first angle shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, the housing 106 defines a channel 130. The blade support 110 can extend through the channel 130. The blade support 110 can be rotatable relative to the channel 130 so as to change the angle of the blade member 120 relative to the housing 106. For example, when the actuator 115 is decoupled from the housing 106, the blade support 110 can freely rotate relative to the channel 130 to allow the angle of the blade member 120 to be oriented relative to the housing 106 as desired for a particular application of the adjustable knockdown tool 100. This could include rotating the blade support 110 from the first angle of the blade member 120 relative to the housing 106, shown in
The actuator receptacle 135 is configured to be coupled to the actuator 115. In particular, the first end portion 117 of the handle 116 can be configured to be coupled to the actuator receptacle 135. In the illustrated embodiment, the first end portion 117 of the handle 116 can include a first threading and the actuator receptacle 135 can include a second threading 136. The first threading of the first end portion 117 of the handle 116 can be configured to be coupled to the second threading 136 of the actuator receptacle 135. Though, in other embodiments, other suitable complementary configurations at each of the first end portion 117 of the handle 116 and the actuator receptacle 135 can be used.
Coupling the actuator 115 to the actuator receptacle 135 can cause the locking element 140 to move from the releasing position to the locking position so as to fix the angle of the blade member 120 relative to the housing 106. For example, in the illustrated embodiment of the adjustable knockdown tool 100, coupling the first end portion 117 of the handle 116 to the actuator receptacle 135 can cause the locking element 140 to move from the releasing position to the locking position so as to fix the angle of the blade member 120 relative to the housing 106. Likewise, in the illustrated embodiment of the adjustable knockdown tool 100, decoupling the first end portion 117 of the handle 116 from the actuator receptacle 135 can cause the locking element 140 to move from the locking position to the releasing position so as to allow the the angle of the blade member 120 to be changed relative to the housing 106.
In this embodiment, the first end portion 117 of the handle 116 can be coupled to, and decoupled from, the actuator receptacle 135 via relative rotation between the first end portion 117 of the handle 116 and the actuator receptacle 135. For example, relative rotation in a first direction between the first end portion 117 of the handle 116 and the actuator receptacle 135 can cause the locking element 140 to move from the releasing position to the locking position so as to fix the angle of the blade member 120 relative to the housing 106. And, in this example, relative rotation in a second direction, opposite the first direction, between the first end portion 117 of the handle 116 and the actuator receptacle 135 can cause the locking element 140 to move from the locking position to the releasing position so as to allow the blade support 110 to be rotated relative to the channel 130 to change the angle of the blade member 120 relative to the housing 106. In other embodiments within the scope of the present disclosure, other relative movement(s) between the first end portion 117 of the handle 116 and the actuator receptacle 135 can couple and decouple the first end portion 117 and the actuator receptacle 135 so as to fix and adjust, respectively, the orientation of the blade member 120.
As seen in
The locking element 140 is located between the actuator receptacle 135 and the channel 130. The locking element 140 can be movable between the locking position, at which the locking element 140 extends into the channel 130, and the releasing position, at which the locking element 140 retracts away from the channel 130 toward the actuator receptacle 135.
As noted,
The locking element 140 can be at the releasing position when the actuator 115 is decoupled from the actuator receptacle 135. For example, decoupling the actuator 115 from the actuator receptacle 135 can cause the locking element 140 to move from the locking position to the releasing position so as to allow the blade support 110 to be rotated relative to the channel 130 to change the angle of the blade member 120 relative to the housing 106. Thus, as the actuator 115 is decoupled from the actuator receptacle 135, the locking element 140 can be retracted so as to no longer extend into the channel 130.
As noted,
The locking element 140 can be at the locking position when the actuator 115 is coupled to the actuator receptacle 135. For example, coupling the actuator 115 to the actuator receptacle 135 can cause the locking element 140 to move from the releasing position to the locking position so as to fix the blade support 110 at the channel 130 to thereby fix the angle of the blade member 120 relative to the housing 106. Thus, as the actuator 115 is coupled to the actuator receptacle 135, the locking element 140 can be extended into the channel 130 such that the locking element 140 contacts the blade support 110.
In some embodiments, the locking element 140 can be freely movable between the releasing position and the locking position. In such embodiments, force imparted on the locking element upon contact with the actuator 115 being coupled to the actuator receptacle 135 can cause the locking element 140 to move to the locking position and be maintained at the locking position by contact with the actuator 115. In other embodiments, a biasing element can be included at the coupling member 105 and configured to impart a biasing force on the locking element 140 that biases the locking element 140 to one of the locking and releasing positions such that coupling or decoupling the actuator 115 at the coupling member 105 overcomes this biasing force and moves the locking element 140 to the other of the locking and releasing positions.
As seen in
As noted, in the example shown in
The adaptor 200 can serve as the actuator 115. As such, coupling the adaptor 200 to the actuator receptacle 135 can move the locking element 140 to the locking position. Likewise, decoupling the adaptor 200 from the actuator receptacle 135 can move the locking element 140 from the locking position to the releasing position. For example, the first coupling mechanism 208 can be coupled to, and decoupled from, the actuator receptacle 135 via relative rotation as described previously in reference to the first end portion 117 of the handle 116.
Various examples have been described. These and other examples are within the scope of the following claims.