The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such drawings:
As shown in
The trowel 20 includes a trowel plane 22, a post 24 extending from the trowel plane 22, and a handle 26.
The trowel plane 22 is in the form of a relatively flat metal plate or blade. The plane 22 can be constructed in various shapes (e.g., rectangular, triangular, ovoid, or the like) using various different types of materials (e.g., metals and plastics having a wide range of flexibility). The plane 22 includes a number of smooth edges 28. Alternatively, the plane 22 may include all smooth edges 28, all toothed edges 30 or a mixture of smooth edges 28 and toothed edges 30.
A mounting bar 32 is fixedly connected to an upper surface 34 of the plane 22 by welding or fasteners (e.g., screws, bolts, rivets or the like). The mounting bar 32 has a generally rectangular cross-section, extending longitudinally along a central portion of the plane 22. Although the mounting bar 32 is generally centered on the plane 22, the mounting bar 32 does not extend for the entire length of the plane 22. A lower surface 36 of the plane 22 is generally continuous and smooth.
The post 24 extends upwardly from the mounting bar 32. The post 24 is integral with the mounting bar 32, either being of single piece construction with the mounting bar 32 or mechanically connected thereto using various fasteners (e.g., screws, bolts, rivets or the like). The post 24 includes a generally tear-shaped front surface 38 that widens upwardly along the post 24. The post 24 includes an upper arcuate surface 40. A rear surface 42 of the post 24 has a similar shape to the front surface 38, but includes a handle insert 44, in the form of a truncated conical shank or tang, extending rearwardly away from the post 24. The handle insert 44 is integral with the post 24, either being of single piece construction with the post 24 or mechanically connected thereto using various fasteners (e.g., screws, bolts, rivets or the like). The handle insert 44 is positioned so as to be generally parallel to and extend along, but in spaced relationship with respect to the mounting bar 32. The handle insert 44 includes a mechanism 46 for selectively attaching the handle 26 to the post 24 in a generally left-handed orientation relative to the trowel plane 22 in order to accommodate a left-handed user or a generally right-handed orientation relative to the trowel plane 22 in order to accommodate a left-handed user.
A first end 48 of the handle 26 defines a recess 50 into which the handle insert 44 extends. The recess 50 is generally shaped in the form of a truncated cone and sized to engage the handle insert 44. The recess 50 includes a keyway 52 which defines a portion of the mechanism 46 for selectively attaching the handle 26 to the post 24. The keyway 52 comprises a plurality of key-receiving slots 54 disposed about the circumference of the recess 50. The handle 26 is disposed generally parallel to the trowel plane 22, and includes a grip 56. The handle insert 44 is positionable within the recess 50 and includes a key 58 which defines another portion of the mechanism 46 for selectively attaching the handle 26 to the post 24. The key 58 includes a number of elongated flanges 60 (e.g., three flanges 60 are illustrated in
The trowel 20 also includes a mechanism for locking 66 the handle 26 in a selected orientation. The locking mechanism 66 includes a threaded fastener (e.g., a bolt, screw or the like) 68 inserted through a bore 70 (threaded or smooth) extending through the post 24 and handle insert 44 into a threaded bore 72 positioned with an opening at one end of the recess 50 in order to removably secure the handle 26 to the post 24.
In the alternative, a trowel can include a left-handed handle insert (i.e., the flanges 60 of the key 58 are able to engage only the first set 62 of slots 54 to place the handle 26 in a generally left-handed orientation) and a right-handed handle insert (i.e., the flanges 60 of the key 58 are able to engage the second set 66 of slots 54 to place the handle 26 in a generally right-handed orientation) with the inserts disposed on opposite sides of the post 24. The use of dual handle inserts can allow both left-handed and right-handed users to use a trowel plane 22 having a toothed edge 30 along only a single longitudinal edge of the trowel plane 22. The post 24 would be centrally located along the length of the mounting bar 32.
In another alternative, instead of a handle insert, a number of keys in the form of bars, cubes, cylinders, directly can extend away from the surface of the post. The handle could include a first set of recesses sized and shaped to receive the keys to place the handle in a generally left-handed orientation and a second set of recesses sized and shaped to receive the keys to place the handle in a generally right-handed orientation. The post would include a bore (threaded or smooth) extending through the post and the handle would include a threaded bore positioned with an opening at an end of the handle facing the post in order to removably secure the handle to the post by inserting a threaded fastener (e.g., a bolt, screw or the like) through the bores.
All features of the various embodiments discussed above can be mixed and matched to define an embodiment that is not directly illustrated in the accompanying figures.
The above-described embodiments of the present invention are illustrative only and not limiting. It will thus be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects. Therefore, the appended claims encompass all such changes and modifications as falling within the true spirit and scope of this invention.