Patent Grant
8667636
The present invention relates to a trowel assembly for distributing material on a work surface. In particular, the invention relates to a folding masonry trowel assembly with multiple blades and method of making the same.
Trowels are used to spread material such as cement, filler, grout and the like on a work surface such as a floor, a wall, or similar surface. Masonry trowels are hand trowels used to spread or shape material such as mortar or concrete on brickwork or stonework.
Each trowel has a blade suitable for the material and work for which it is used, and a handle attached to the flat of the blade via a neck. A worker typically has a set of different trowels, each suitable for a different job. Trowels are generally stored in a tool box. At the beginning of each work day, the worker typically collects several trowels from the tool box. The worker may have to search through a cluttered tool box to find the necessary trowels, and it can be challenging to keep the trowels organized. The trowels required for the day's job are typically carried to a job site in a bucket or canvas tote bag. The trowels are generally of different lengths and shapes, and are therefore generally not stackable, and can take up significant volume in the bucket or tote. As the trowels are being used during the day, they may be left around the job site, as the worker is often working in different areas. The trowels tend to get lost or left on job sites. Smaller trowels are often carried in the back pocket of the workers' pants and tend to get hooked up on scaffolding, scrape walls or fall out. The trowels are not usually high on the priority list of tools to be put away after work. They can be easily mixed in with debris on job sites and accidently thrown away.
Conventional trowels come in an assortment of sizes with wooden or plastic handles. The welded components of each trowel can fatigue and/or break, thereby resulting in the handles separating from the trowels and rendering them useless as a practical matter. Trowels are frequently in need of being replaced because of breakage or loss.
The folding trowel assembly described in this application comprises a compact casing, and can be carried in a pouch, for example, that attaches to the belt loop of the worker's pants. The folding trowel assembly can comprise a number of different trowel blades housed in the casing, and is easy to carry.
The folding trowel assembly described in this application solves the problem of having to carry around multiple trowels in a bucket or canvas tote bag. The trowel assembly keeps the trowel blades safely stored and ready for use when needed. When the worker is finished with a particular trowel, the trowel can be cleaned off and folded back into the casing, ready for the next use. Workers can each have their own trowel assembly, reducing the likelihood of losing trowels at job sites. The trowel assembly also saves time in that the worker will not have to waste time each day searching out and selecting different trowels for the day's work.
A folding trowel assembly comprises:
In the foregoing folding trowel assembly, an angle between the casing body and the casing neck tab allows trowel blades to be pivoted such that sufficient clearance is provided between the casing body and a work surface to permit the casing body to be used as a handle for each of the trowel blades.
In a preferred embodiment of the folding trowel assembly, the casing neck defines a plane that is at a first angle of between 20 degrees and 60 degrees to a plane defined by the casing body, and the casing neck tab defines a plane that is at a second angle of between 5 and 30 degrees to the plane defined by the casing body, wherein the second angle is less than the first angle. Preferably, the first angle is about 45 degrees and the second angle is about 12 degrees. Each of the trowel blades is preferably rotatable approximately 180 degrees from a housed position within the casing.
In a preferred embodiment of the folding trowel assembly, the pivot pin comprises a threaded end and a flanged end, and the release mechanism comprises a threaded fastener cooperative with the pivot pin threaded end. In operation, rotation of the fastener in a first direction compresses the trowel blades against the pivot pin flanged end and rotation of the fastener in a second, opposite direction relieves compression of the trowel blades against the pivot pin flanged end. The threaded fastener preferably comprises a thumb lock.
In another preferred embodiment of the folding trowel assembly, the pivot pin comprises a cam end and a flanged end, and the release mechanism comprises a cam lever cooperative with the cam end. In operation, orienting the cam lever in a closed position compresses the trowel blades against the pivot pin flanged end and orienting the cam lever in an open position relieves compression of the trowel blades against the pivot pin flanged end.
In a preferred embodiment, the folding trowel assembly further comprises a plurality of washers mounted on the pivot pin and interposed between neighboring trowel blade neck tabs.
In a preferred embodiment of the folding trowel assembly, the pivot mechanism comprises first physical features formed on one side of the trowel blade neck tab and second physical features formed on an opposite side of the trowel blade neck tab, the first and second physical features cooperative with second and first physical features, respectively, formed on neighboring trowel blade neck tabs. In operation, rotating a trowel blade about the pivot pin orients the trowel blade at fixed angular increments upon compression of the stacked plurality of trowel blades. The first physical features preferably comprise radial ridges formed on the trowel blade neck tab first side and cooperating radial indentations formed on the trowel blade neck tab second side.
In another preferred embodiment of the folding trowel assembly, the pivot mechanism further comprises a plurality of locking washers mounted on the pivot pin and interposed between neighboring trowel blade neck tabs, and the locking washers comprise first physical features formed on one side thereof and second physical features formed on an opposite side thereof. The first and second locking washer physical features are cooperative with second and first physical features, respectively, formed on the neighboring trowel blade neck tabs.
In a preferred embodiment of the folding trowel assembly, the pivot pin has a flanged end and a blade guard extending therefrom for shielding the plurality of trowel blades housed within the casing.
In a preferred embodiment of the folding trowel assembly, for each of the plurality of trowel blades, the trowel blade neck defines a plane that is at a first angle of between 20 degrees and 60 degrees to a plane defined by the trowel. Preferably, the trowel blade neck tab defines a plane that is at a second angle of between 5 and 30 degrees to the plane defined by the trowel, and the second angle is less than the first angle.
In another preferred embodiment of the folding trowel assembly, the casing body has at least one of a level mounted on an exterior facing surface thereof and ruler markings formed on an exterior surface thereof.
In another preferred embodiment of the folding trowel assembly, the release mechanism is a push-button release mechanism. The folding trowel assembly preferably further comprises a plurality of spacing washers mounted on the pivot pin and interposed between neighboring trowel blade neck tabs, and the push-button release mechanism comprises:
In operation, translating the outer sleeve depressor end toward the pivot pin opposite end aligns the grooves with the spacer washers, thereby dissociating the outer sleeve exterior surface from the trowel blades and permitting the trowel blades to rotate about the pivot pin.
In the foregoing preferred embodiment of the folding trowel assembly, the depressor end of the outer sleeve comprises a push-button mounted on the casing neck. The pivot pin is preferably flanged at the end opposite the outer sleeve depressor end, and the resilient compression mechanism comprises a spring interposed between the pivot pin flange and the outer sleeve. Preferably, each of the trowel blade neck tabs has at least one recess formed therein, and the at least one recess cooperates with the outer sleeve exterior surface such that the trowel blades are positionable at at least one discrete angle from a housed position within the casing.
In a preferred embodiment, a folding trowel assembly comprises:
In the foregoing preferred embodiment, an angle between the casing body and the casing neck tab allows trowel blades to be pivoted such that sufficient clearance is provided between the casing body and a work surface to permit the casing body to be used as a handle for each of the trowel blades. In operation, translating the outer sleeve depressor end toward the release pin opposite end aligns the grooves with the spacer washers, thereby dissociating the outer sleeve exterior surface from the trowel blades and permitting the trowel blades to rotate about the pivot pin.
The present folding trowel assembly comprises multiple trowel blades of assorted types and sizes housed in a casing that serves as a handle, and allows for different trowel blades to be unfolded and used as needed. It is more efficient for a worker to have all the blades that might be needed contained in a single unit compact assembly.
The present folding trowel assembly comprises a pivot mechanism that allows the position of the trowel blade to be deployed at an adjustable angle relative to the casing. Generally, the selected trowel blade will be deployed so that it is aligned with the casing such that the blade is rotated approximately 180 degrees from its folded (stored) position. The angle between the deployed trowel blade and the casing (serving as a handle) can be adjusted, however, to suit different work tasks if desired.
As further shown in
In one embodiment, the holes in neck tabs 116 and 126 are ⅜″. Thumb lock device 130 can be used to lock the mechanism when trowel blades 110 are in a desired position. Pivot pin 140 and thumb lock device 130 can be tightened to hold the selected trowel blade firmly in position and ready for use.
The angle between casing body 122 and neck tab 126 allows trowel blades 110 to be pivoted into a working position in a manner which provides clearance between casing body 122 (serving as a handle) and a work surface. Clearance is described in further detail below. In an example embodiment, the angle between casing body 122 and neck 124 of casing 120 is 45 degrees, and the angle between the casing body 122 and neck tab 126 of the casing is 12 degrees.
When trowel 112a is laid flat on work surface 410, neck 114a subtends an angle A with work surface 410. In an example embodiment, angle A (between trowel 112a of trowel blade 110a and neck 116a) is 45 degrees. Neck tab 116a subtends an angle B with a plane parallel to work surface 410, or equivalently neck tab 116a subtends an angle equal to angle B minus angle A with neck 114a. In an example embodiment, angle B is 12 degrees. Generally, angle B is less than angle A, and angle B minus angle A is a negative value. This means that neck tab 116a is angled down below the plane of neck 114a.
Trowel blade 110a rotates about pivot pin 140 of
Generally, the angle between trowel 112a and neck 114a is substantially the same as the angle between casing body 122 and casing neck 124. Similarly, the angle between neck 114a and neck tab 116a is substantially the same as the angle between neck 124 and neck tab 126 of casing 120. In the illustrated embodiment, these angles are substantially the same. In some embodiments, these angles can vary for different trowel blades 110 in the folding trowel assembly of
Referring again to
In a conventional (single, non-folding) trowel, neck 116a provides spacing between the work surface and the trowel handle. In the folding trowel assembly described herein, trowel blade 110a is rotated out of casing 120 about an axis perpendicular to neck tabs 114a and 124 (axis X-Y of
In an example embodiment, where angle B of
The following paragraphs describe example methods and materials that can be used in the manufacture of the folding trowel assembly such as example embodiment 100 in
Casing 120 of
A temporary pin can be used as a guide during construction of the folding trowel assembly until pivot pin 140 is ready for insertion.
In operation, thumb lock device 130 can be released sufficiently to allow trowel blades 110 to be unfolded or shaken loose from the closed (folded and/or stacked) position to expose one or more trowel blades (see for example
Neck 124 can be formed by bending the sheet metal of casing 120 to create an angle between casing body 122 and neck 124. Both sides of casing 120 should be bent through the same angle so that the sides of neck 124 are parallel to one other. In one embodiment, the angle is 45 degrees.
Neck tab 126 can be formed by bending the sheet metal of casing 120 to create an angle between neck 124 and neck tab 126. Both sides of casing 120 should be bent through the same angle so that the sides of neck tab 126 are parallel to one another. In one embodiment, the angle is 33 degrees. The angle between the plane of neck tab 126 and the plane of casing body 122 is 12 degrees. The selection of this angle is a factor in achieving suitable clearance between casing 120 (serving as the handle for trowel 112a) and the work surface.
The folding trowel assembly can contain one or more trowel blades 110. The types, sizes and shapes of trowel blades 110 can vary. In some embodiments, the trowel blade widths may be for example ¼″, ½″, ¾″, 1″, 1½″, and 1¾″.
Example trowel blades 110 are illustrated in
Folding trowel assembly 100 in
Other types of tools can be housed in the same casing 120 in
To use a specific blade, the user can unfold and fan out the blades, select the desired blade and fold the rest of the blades back into the casing. The user then locks the selected blade into the desired position by tightening the thumb lock device. To release and fold away the blade, the user loosens the thumb lock device and folds the blade back into the casing. The unit can then be returned to a storage pouch and attached, for example, to a belt loop. Trowel assembly 100 of
Each blade can have different functions for different types of work. The casing or casing body can be ergonomically shaped to fit the gripping motion of the hand. The outer surface of the casing body can be textured to provide a more secure grip.
The masonry industry is such that, depending on the application, a large number of different types of trowel tools may be needed. The folding trowel assembly described in this application makes it possible to carry a variety of tools in a compact assembly, interchangeably selectable for a desired application.
In some embodiments, the casing can incorporate features and tools. For example, the casing can incorporate one or more level indicators.
In other embodiments, additional tools can be incorporated into the trowel assembly, for example, but not limited to, a brush, a knife and a plumb-bob line. Measuring increments can also be provided along the edge of the casing body.
In some embodiments, trowel blade 2500A can be held more securely in place by means of features in trowel blade 2500A that retain the blade at one or more specific angles relative to the casing, for example at 90 degrees or 180 degrees relative to the length of the casing.
In some embodiments, features on a locking washer 2550 can be used to hold trowel blade 2500B in place at a desired position when a thumb locking device or other fastener device on the pivot pin is tightened.
In other embodiments, a locking pin can be used to hold trowel blades 2620 in place.
In some embodiments, a quick-release mechanism such as a push-button release can be used to allow the blades to be rotated out of the casing (that is, unfolded) for selection and use.
In some embodiments, such as that shown in
In other embodiments, a quick-release mechanism such as a cam lever can be used to allow the blades to be rotated out of the casing (that is, unfolded) for selection and use, and to secure the blades in place once the desired blade has been selected and positioned, and the remaining blades returned to the casing.
Trowel blades can be shaped and sized for a variety of end uses. As described above, folding trowel assemblies as described herein are particularly suitable for masonry applications. The trowel assembly and trowel blades can be sized so that they are suitable for fine work and for work in small or confined areas. For other situations, a larger trowel assembly can be used.
Embodiments of the folding trowel assembly can be used in other applications, such as, for example, tiling, archeology, geology and cake decoration. The casing can be designed to accommodate different sets of trowel blades, each set for a different application. Individual trowel blades and sets of trowel blades can be interchanged in the trowel assembly to suit particular applications. The casing (including the size, shape, thickness, construction materials and pivoting and locking mechanism) can be designed to suit a particular end use.
While particular elements, embodiments and applications of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be understood that the present invention is not limited thereto, since modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, particularly in light of the foregoing teachings.
This application is related to and claims priority benefits from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/618,985 filed on Apr. 2, 2012, entitled “Folding Trowel Assembly With Multiple Blades”. The '985 provisional application is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2237378 | Thienemann | Apr 1941 | A |
| 2561521 | Herbert | Jul 1951 | A |
| 3166776 | Selck | Jan 1965 | A |
| 4006613 | Zion | Feb 1977 | A |
| 4673346 | Anderson | Jun 1987 | A |
| 4724572 | Gringer | Feb 1988 | A |
| 5103520 | Mazzo | Apr 1992 | A |
| 5231729 | Rose | Aug 1993 | A |
| 5450648 | Dovin et al. | Sep 1995 | A |
| 6178586 | Jafarmadar | Jan 2001 | B1 |
| 7036952 | Zirk et al. | May 2006 | B2 |
| 7047588 | Bennett | May 2006 | B2 |
| 7213283 | Rivera | May 2007 | B2 |
| 7757335 | Servidio | Jul 2010 | B1 |
| 20020162238 | Bakke et al. | Nov 2002 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20130255016 A1 | Oct 2013 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61618985 | Apr 2012 | US |
