The present invention relates to concrete finishing. More particularly, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a specialized concrete tool for use in situations where a garage or overhead door will seal with the concrete.
Hand trowels are commonly used in finishing concrete. Generally, hand trowels are swiped across concrete in order to obtain a desired evenness of a surface and to remove lumps. Although normal hand trowels may be appropriate for flat even surfaces, issues are created in situations where surfaces are intended to have a slope.
One particularly troublesome situation relates to laying concrete where a garage or overhead door will seal with concrete. This may be referred to as a transition area in that the concrete floor transitions to the outside. In such a situation, when one uses a hand trowel it is very difficult to provide consistent and uniform slope along the length of the transition area underneath a garage or overhead door. Without a uniform slope the door will not seal evenly across its length. Moreover, if there is not a uniform slope, water may not run away from the door. It is desirable for the transition area to slope downwardly towards the outside so that water will run away from the door. Therefore, problems remain.
Therefore, it is a primary object, feature, or advantage of the present invention to improve over the state of the art.
It is a further object, feature, or advantage of the present invention to provide a specialized concrete tool which may be used to provide consistent and uniform slope along the length of cement under the garage or overhead door.
It is a still further object, feature, or advantage of the present invention to provide a specialized concrete tool which is easy and convenient to use.
Another object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is to provide a method of finishing concrete especially in a transition area underneath where a garage or overhead door will hang.
Yet another object, feature, or advantage is to allow for garage doors or overhead doors to seal with concrete when in closed positions.
A still further object, feature, or advantage is to encourage water to run away from a garage door or overhead door.
One or more of these and/or other objects, features, or advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the specification and claims that follow. No single embodiment need provide each and every object, feature, or advantage. Different embodiments may have different objects, features, or advantages. Therefore, the present invention is not to be limited to or by any objects, features, or advantages stated herein.
According to one aspect, a concrete tool for use in transition areas for garage or overhead doors is provided. The concrete tool includes an elongated main body extending between a first and an opposite second end, wherein the main body extends at a slope upwardly from the first end to the opposite second end. The concrete tool further includes a right angle portion extending upwardly from the first end of the elongated main body and then outwardly in order to rest on a top of concrete form, the right angle portion comprising a first generally vertical portion extending generally upwardly from the elongated main body and a second generally horizontal portion extending outwardly from the first generally vertical portion. The concrete tool may include a first post extending vertically upwardly from the elongated main body proximate the first end with a first grip positioned on the first post. The concrete tool may include a second post extending upwardly from the elongated main body proximate the second end with a second grip positioned on the second post.
According to another aspect, a concrete tool for use in a transition area between garage or overhead doors includes an elongated main body extending between a first and an opposite second end, wherein the main body extends at a slope upwardly from the first end to the opposite second end. The concrete tool further includes a right angle portion extending upwardly from the first end of the elongated main body and then outwardly, the right angle portion comprising a first generally vertical portion extending generally upwardly from the elongated main body and a second generally horizontal portion extending outwardly from the first generally vertical portion. The concrete tool further includes a first handle mounted proximate the first end of the elongated main body and a second handle mounted proximate the second end of the elongated main body. In an operative position, the right angle portion fits over a concrete form with the second generally horizontal portion riding along the concrete form as an operator of the concrete tool uses the first handle and the second handle to move the concrete tool across the transition area.
Illustrated embodiments of the disclosure are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, which are incorporated by reference herein.
The invention is a specialized concrete tool for used in laying concrete in situations where a garage or overhead door will seal with the concrete. The flat plane achieved with this concrete tool allows rubber stripping of an overhead door to seal evenly across its length. The angle of the tool provides a uniform slope all the way across a transition area allowing water to run away from the door.
The first post 20 and the second post 22 may extend vertically upward in operation as shown in
The elongated main body 12 of the concrete tool 10 has a top side and an opposite bottom side. The bottom side is smooth. A stiffener may be present along the top side of the elongated main body 12 in order to assist in preventing flexing. The stiffener may take on any number of forms. For example, the stiffener may include one or more stiffening ribs positioned along the elongated main body 12. The stiffener may be formed integrally with the elongated main body 12. Edges of the elongated main body 12 may be beveled. The elongated main body 12 may be made of the same type of materials used for standard trowels such as stainless steel. The end 13 of the elongated main body 12 may be turned slightly upward.
The right angle portion or bracket 14 is at one end of the elongated main body 12. The right angle portion 14 may include a first portion 16 extending generally upward and a second portion 18 extending generally outward from a top portion of the first portion 16. In operation, the right angle portion or bracket 14 may fit over a concrete form 30 with the angle between the first portion 16 and the second portion 18 being a right angle or substantially a right angle.
The elongated main body 12 extends between a first end 13 and opposite second end 15. The elongated main body 12 extends at a slope angle 34. The slope angle 34 may be defined as the angle between the line 36 extended from the top of the right angle bracket 14 to the top surface of the concrete slab and the elongated. The elongated main body 12 may be of different lengths such as twenty (20) inches, sixteen (16) inches, twelve (12) inches, etc. The length of the elongated main body 12 preferably corresponds with a desired width of the transition area. While the longer length may be more appropriate for industrial or agricultural structures, the shorter length may be more appropriate for residential structures. Of course, other lengths may be used. The slope may be of different lengths such as one (1) inch, one and one half (½) inch, two (2) inches. Of course, other slopes could be used. A set of concrete tools may include a plurality of different concrete tools having different lengths and different slopes.
The basic structure includes a right angle bracket or portion 14 which fits over a concrete form at one end. An elongated main body 12 extends at a gradual slope upward in the opposite direction. A stiffener may be present along a top side of this elongated portion 12 to prevent flexing. Two handles with grips 24, 26 extend generally vertically upward at opposite ends of the device 10. The edges may be beveled. The basic structure may be made of the same materials as standard trowels such as steel, magnesium alloys, or other types of materials.
The invention is not to be limited to the particular embodiments described herein. In particular, the invention contemplates numerous variations in the angle or slope of the tool, the length and width of the tool, the placement of the handles, the grip on the handles where present, and other structural variations. The foregoing description has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list or limit any of the invention to the precise forms disclosed. It is contemplated that other alternatives or exemplary aspects are considered included in the invention. The description is merely examples of embodiments, processes or methods of the invention. It is understood that any other modifications, substitutions, and/or additions can be made, which are within the intended spirit and scope of the invention.