Patent Grant
11739543
This invention relates to tools and tool accessories, including a power tool accessory for smoothing concrete.
As is known in the art, once cement has been poured into an area to form a concrete slab, the cement will cure over time and become hardened. During this process, it is typically preferable to smooth the surface of the partially dried concrete to remove unwanted imperfections that may be on the concrete's top surface. This procedure is often referred to as “finishing” the concrete.
This exercise is typically performed using a hand trowel during which the user manually sweeps the trowel over the surface of the concrete to smooth away unwanted marks, lines, scratches, particles, or any other problematic surface issues on the concrete. However, this procedure is very laborious and time consuming when large areas of concrete require finishing.
Accordingly, there is a need for a power tool accessory that may be used to finish concrete while reducing the amount of time and human exertion required.
According to one aspect, one or more embodiments are provided below for a concrete smoothing assembly adapted to be coupled with a rotating power tool, the assembly comprising a central hub adapted to be coupled to the rotating power tool and including at least two outward extending arms, a first blade attached to a first of the at least two outward extending arms, the first blade including a first blade distal portion and a first blade proximal portion, the first blade proximal portion including a first blade foot portion and a first blade offset portion, and a second blade attached to a second of the at least two outward extending arms, the second blade including a second blade distal portion and a second blade proximal portion, the second blade proximal portion including a second blade foot portion and a second blade offset portion, wherein a portion of the first blade foot portion overlaps a portion of the second blade offset portion.
In another embodiment, the concrete finishing assembly further comprises a third blade attached to a third of the at least two outward extending arms, the third blade including a third blade distal portion and a third blade proximal portion, the third blade proximal portion including a third blade foot portion and a third blade offset portion, and a fourth blade attached to a fourth of the at least two outward extending arms, the fourth blade including a fourth blade distal portion and a fourth blade proximal portion, the fourth blade proximal portion including a fourth blade foot portion and a fourth blade offset portion, wherein a portion of the second blade foot portion overlaps a portion of the third blade offset portion, a portion of the third blade foot portion overlaps a portion of the fourth blade offset portion, and a portion of the fourth blade foot portion overlaps a portion of the first blade offset portion.
In another embodiment, at least one of the at least two outward extending arms includes a top side and a bottom side, and the bottom side includes a slanted notch, wherein at least one of the first and second blades is attached to the slanted notch.
In another embodiment, the at least one of the at least two outward extending arms includes a left side and a right side, and the slanted notch extends from the right side to the left side.
In another embodiment, the slanted notch extends at an angle of 10°-20° with respect to a horizontal axis.
In another embodiment, at least one of the first blade and the second blade includes a left side and a right side, and a bottom side extending between the left side and the right side at an angle of 10°-20° with respect to a horizontal axis
In another embodiment, the concrete finishing assembly further comprises a pin coupled to a top of the central hub, a portion of the pin extending upward and away from the central hub and perpendicular to the at least two outward extending arms, the pin adapted to be coupled to a rotating power tool.
In another embodiment, the first blade foot portion includes a rearmost proximal portion of the first blade proximal portion.
In another embodiment, the first blade foot portion and the first blade offset portion are joined by a concave curvature, and/or the second blade foot portion and the second blade offset portion are joined by a concave curvature.
In another embodiment, the first blade distal portion includes a convex curvature defining a first blade working edge, and/or the second blade distal portion includes a convex curvature defining a second blade working edge.
In another embodiment, the first working edge and/or the second working edge is sharpened.
According to another aspect, one or more embodiments are provided below for a concrete smoothing assembly adapted to be coupled to a rotating power tool, the assembly comprising a central hub adapted to be coupled to the rotating power tool, a first blade including a first blade distal portion and a first blade proximal portion, the first blade proximal portion coupled to the central hub and including a first blade foot portion and a first blade offset portion; and a second blade including a second blade distal portion and a second blade proximal portion, the second blade proximal portion coupled to the central hub and including a second blade foot portion and a second blade offset portion, wherein a portion of the first blade foot portion overlaps a portion of the second blade offset portion.
In another embodiment, the concrete smoothing assembly further comprises a third blade including a third blade distal portion and a third blade proximal portion, the third blade proximal portion coupled to the central hub and including a third blade foot portion and a third blade offset portion, and a fourth blade including a fourth blade distal portion and a fourth blade proximal portion, the fourth blade proximal portion coupled to the central hub and including a fourth blade foot portion and a fourth blade offset portion, wherein a portion of the second blade foot portion overlaps a portion of the third blade offset portion, a portion of the third blade foot portion overlaps a portion of the fourth blade offset portion, and a portion of the fourth blade foot portion overlaps a portion of the first blade offset portion.
In another embodiment, at least one of the first blade and the second blade includes a left side and a right side, and a bottom side extending between the left side and the right side at an angle of 10°-20° with respect to a horizontal axis.
In another embodiment, the concrete smoothing assembly further comprises a pin coupled to a top of the central hub, a portion of the pin extending upward and away from the central hub and adapted to be coupled to a rotating power tool.
In another embodiment, the first blade foot portion includes a rearmost proximal portion of the first blade proximal portion.
In another embodiment, the first blade foot portion and the first blade offset portion are joined by a concave curvature, and/or the second blade foot portion and the second blade offset portion are joined by a concave curvature.
In another embodiment, the first blade distal portion includes a convex curvature defining a first blade working edge, and/or the second blade distal portion includes a convex curvature defining a second blade working edge.
In another embodiment, the first working edge and/or the second working edge is sharpened.
In another embodiment, the first blade and/or the second blade extend radially from the central hub.
Other aspects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims.
Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:
In general, the assembly according to exemplary embodiments hereof includes a power tool accessory adapted to smooth or otherwise “finish” the top surface of partially hardened concrete. In some embodiments, the assembly includes one or more radial blades extending from a central hub. The hub is coupled with a rotating power tool (e.g., a power drill) adapted to rotate thereby spinning the radial blades. The blades are adapted to engage the concrete's surface in a sweeping motion, thereby smoothing away marks and other rough elements on the concrete's surface.
In one exemplary embodiment hereof, as shown in
For the purposes of this specification, the concrete finishing assembly 10 will be described primarily with use with a power drill. It is understood however that the finishing assembly 10 may be used with other types of tools (manual and/or powered), and that the scope of the finishing assembly 10 is not limited in any way by the type of tools that it may be used with. It is preferable that the power tools may be capable of rotating in order to rotate the assembly 10.
In use, a user of the concrete finishing assembly 10 may engage the rotating blade assembly 200 with the top surface of an area of partially hardened concrete area so that the sweeping motion of the blade assembly 200 may smooth imperfections from the concrete's surface.
Further details of the concrete finishing assembly 10, the central hub assembly 100, and the blade assembly 200 will be described below in relation to
Hub Assembly 100
In one exemplary embodiment hereof as shown in
As shown in
In some embodiments as shown in
In some embodiments as shown in
In some embodiments as shown in
In some embodiments as shown in
In some embodiments as shown in
The hub assembly 100 may comprise metal (such as steel, iron, or aluminum), plastic, composite materials, any other suitable materials, and any combination thereof. The hub assembly 100 may be produced as a single piece (e.g., cast, or molded) or as separate pieces and then combined.
Blade Assembly 200
In one exemplary embodiment hereof as shown in
In some embodiments as shown in
In some embodiments as shown in
In some embodiments as shown in
In some embodiments, each blade 202 is adapted to be attached to the bottom 114 of a corresponding radial arm 104, and in particular, onto the underneath surface of the arm 104 formed by each respective arm's 104's slanted notch 120. Accordingly, the blade 202 may include a blade attachment portion 220, as shown in
As shown, because the notch's underneath surface is set at an angle θ, the attachment of the blade 202 to the notch 120 orients the blade 202 at the same angle θ. In this configuration, the blade's 202's right side 210 is positioned lower than the blade's 202's left side 208. The radial arm 104 and the blade 202 are configured to move in a clockwise direction (as the hub 102 spins clockwise in the direction of 1 in
In some embodiments as shown in
In some embodiments, each blade 202 is attached to its respective radial arm 104 and/or spacers 222 using bolts, screws, rivets, and/or other types of pins passing through aligned openings in the radial arms 104, spacers 222 (e.g., as shown in
Assembly 10
In one exemplary embodiment hereof as shown in
In some embodiments as shown in
For example, as shown in
In any of the embodiments described herein or otherwise, it is understood that the blades 202 may be configured with the central hub 102 using any type of architecture, junction and/or supporting members that result in the blades 202 generally extending radially from the hub 102 in the orientations as described above. For example, the proximal portion 212 of the blades 202 themselves may be attached to the central hub 102 without the use of the radial arms 104. In another example, the radial arms 104 may be integrated into the blades 202 as reinforcement structures. It is understood that the scope of the concrete finishing assembly 10 is not limited in any way by the way in which the blades 202 are configured with the hub 102 as long as the blades 202 generally extend radially from the hub 102 in the orientations as described herein.
In Use
In one exemplary embodiment hereof, the pin 108 may be coupled to the chuck of a power drill, and the power drill may be used to rotate the pin 108, the hub 102, the radial arms 104 and the blades 202 attached thereto.
With the blades rotating, the user of the assembly 10 may then place the working edges 216 of the blades 202 in contact with the surface of the partially hardened concrete to brush away surface imperfections.
The assembly 10 may be used to finish horizontal concrete surfaces, vertical concrete surfaces, angled concrete surfaces, or any combination thereof.
It is understood that the steps described above are meant for demonstration and that additional steps may be performed, not all of the described steps may be performed, and the steps may be taken in different orders. It also is understood that the scope of the assembly 10 is not limited in any way by the steps taken during its use.
It also is understood that any aspect and/or element of any embodiment of the assembly 10 described herein or otherwise may be combined with any other aspect and/or element of any other embodiment described herein or otherwise in any way to form additional embodiments of the assembly 10 all of which are within the scope of the assembly 10.
Where a process is described herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the process may operate without any user intervention. In another embodiment, the process includes some human intervention (e.g., a step is performed by or with the assistance of a human).
As used herein, including in the claims, the phrase “at least some” means “one or more,” and includes the case of only one. Thus, e.g., the phrase “at least some ABCs” means “one or more ABCs”, and includes the case of only one ABC.
As used herein, including in the claims, term “at least one” should be understood as meaning “one or more”, and therefore includes both embodiments that include one or multiple components. Furthermore, dependent claims that refer to independent claims that describe features with “at least one” have the same meaning, both when the feature is referred to as “the” and “the at least one”.
As used in this description, the term “portion” means some or all. So, for example, “A portion of X” may include some of “X” or all of “X”. In the context of a conversation, the term “portion” means some or all of the conversation.
As used herein, including in the claims, the phrase “using” means “using at least,” and is not exclusive. Thus, e.g., the phrase “using X” means “using at least X.” Unless specifically stated by use of the word “only”, the phrase “using X” does not mean “using only X.”
As used herein, including in the claims, the phrase “based on” means “based in part on” or “based, at least in part, on,” and is not exclusive. Thus, e.g., the phrase “based on factor X” means “based in part on factor X” or “based, at least in part, on factor X.” Unless specifically stated by use of the word “only”, the phrase “based on X” does not mean “based only on X.”
In general, as used herein, including in the claims, unless the word “only” is specifically used in a phrase, it should not be read into that phrase.
As used herein, including in the claims, the phrase “distinct” means “at least partially distinct.” Unless specifically stated, distinct does not mean fully distinct. Thus, e.g., the phrase, “X is distinct from Y” means that “X is at least partially distinct from Y,” and does not mean that “X is fully distinct from Y.” Thus, as used herein, including in the claims, the phrase “X is distinct from Y” means that X differs from Y in at least some way.
It should be appreciated that the words “first,” “second,” and so on, in the description and claims, are used to distinguish or identify, and not to show a serial or numerical limitation. Similarly, letter labels (e.g., “(A)”, “(B)”, “(C)”, and so on, or “(a)”, “(b)”, and so on) and/or numbers (e.g., “(i)”, “(ii)”, and so on) are used to assist in readability and to help distinguish and/or identify, and are not intended to be otherwise limiting or to impose or imply any serial or numerical limitations or orderings. Similarly, words such as “particular,” “specific,” “certain,” and “given,” in the description and claims, if used, are to distinguish or identify, and are not intended to be otherwise limiting.
As used herein, including in the claims, the terms “multiple” and “plurality” mean “two or more,” and include the case of “two.” Thus, e.g., the phrase “multiple ABCs,” means “two or more ABCs,” and includes “two ABCs.” Similarly, e.g., the phrase “multiple PQRs,” means “two or more PQRs,” and includes “two PQRs.”
The present invention also covers the exact terms, features, values and ranges, etc. in case these terms, features, values and ranges etc. are used in conjunction with terms such as about, around, generally, substantially, essentially, at least etc. (i.e., “about 3” or “approximately 3” shall also cover exactly 3 or “substantially constant” shall also cover exactly constant).
As used herein, including in the claims, singular forms of terms are to be construed as also including the plural form and vice versa, unless the context indicates otherwise. Thus, it should be noted that as used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
Throughout the description and claims, the terms “comprise”, “including”, “having”, and “contain” and their variations should be understood as meaning “including but not limited to”, and are not intended to exclude other components unless specifically so stated.
It will be appreciated that variations to the embodiments of the invention can be made while still falling within the scope of the invention. Alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose can replace features disclosed in the specification, unless stated otherwise. Thus, unless stated otherwise, each feature disclosed represents one example of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.
The present invention also covers the exact terms, features, values and ranges, etc. in case these terms, features, values and ranges etc. are used in conjunction with terms such as about, around, generally, substantially, essentially, at least etc. (i.e., “about 3” shall also cover exactly 3 or “substantially constant” shall also cover exactly constant).
Use of exemplary language, such as “for instance”, “such as”, “for example” (“e.g.,”) and the like, is merely intended to better illustrate the invention and does not indicate a limitation on the scope of the invention unless specifically so claimed.
While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/067,364 filed Aug. 19, 2020, the entire contents of which are hereby fully incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20220056712 A1 | Feb 2022 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63067364 | Aug 2020 | US |
