Patent Application
20230123674
None
The present invention relates generally to a new and useful improvement in replacement finishing blades secured to a rotary disk for finishing of various viscous or plastic materials before hardening into a cured state. More particularly, the present invention relates to an attachment for an angle grinder or other power movers that relieves a user from the necessity of having to finish the surface of concrete, plaster, mortar, drywall compound, and similar viscous substances by hand. The new and improved replacement blades includes an adjustable elongated screw slot that receives a screw to align with a plurality of securement holes in rotary disks of various selective sizes to perfectly position replacement blade non-planar edges at the circular edge of the various size rotary disks and at the circular edge of a free rotational guide ring when attached thereto to smoothly finish surface areas, surface edges close to wall structures, and vertical obstructions within the finish surface. An outer peripheral surface outward of the rotary disk edges, and the free rotational guide ring when attached directly to the rotary disks of varied sizes can act as a guide to prevent damage to the wall structures, and the vertical obstructions, thus eliminating the need for any labor intensive hand finishing.
It is well known in the art to utilize hand-held finishing devices that includes several spaced apart replacement blades made of spring-like or flexible material attached to rotating disks to finish concrete and other viscous or plastic material generally referred to as “troweling devices.”
Many of these spring-like or flexible replacement blade members as referenced in prior U.S. Pat. No. 7,144,194 B2 include a smoothing non-planar edge positioned along the circular edge of the rotating disk member to provide sufficient flexibility to glide over a concrete and other viscous or plastic surface of the material being smoothed or finished without digging into and damaging the material surface. Also, the rotary disk and the plurality of replacement blades are able to finish right at wall structures and around electrical or plumbing stubb obstructions within concrete and other viscous or plastic surfaces, while allowing for smooth finishing at the wall structures and around the electrical or plumbing stubb obstructions, thus eliminating the need for any additional labor intensive hand finishing.
These troweling devices with the aforementioned replacement blades and rotary disks enables a worker to finish concrete and other viscous or plastic material in small, confined spaces, or in hard to reach edges, without resorting to hand trowels.
Some hand troweling devices have elongated slots cooperating with an adjustment member for adjusting blade angles for finishing walls and corners. Some of these slots are positioned directly in the blades and others having adjustable slots within bracket members attached to the blades with a cooperating adjustment member for adjusting the blades to define specific blade angles for finishing walls and corners.
Note that none of these troweling devices have replacement blades and rotary disks that teaches the new and useful improvement of the present invention, alone or in combination with one another and/or with other features found in the following and other non-cited prior art patents.
In light of the present invention, the best prior art patents that were found do not teach troweling devices for finishing concrete and other viscous or plastic surfaces with a plurality of selective replacement blades having a pair of elongated slots disposed on a raised flat rear portion of the plurality of selective replacement blades for adjustably receiving a pair of screw members to attach and align the plurality of selective replacement blades with a plurality of securing or threaded holes in selective rotary disk of various sizes. The elongated slots will allow the plurality of selective replacement blades to adjustably accommodate rotary disks of varied sizes.
The closet prior art patents to the present invention that have replacement finishing blades that are connected directly to a finishing planar blade disk by screw threaded members are identified as follows:
U.S. Pat. No. 5,221,156 A teaches a concrete finishing machine having a rotary disk with a plurality of threaded holes therein for attaching a plurality of replacement blades thereto by screw members for finishing a concrete surface. The concrete machine will finish surfaces within approximately 3 mm. to vertical obstructions within a concrete surface while providing a plate means for guiding the machine and preventing damage to the vertical obstructions, thus eliminating the need for expensive time consuming hand finishing.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,144,194 B2 is the referenced patent by the current applicant (inventor) of the instant application that is hereby being improved. This patent teaches a surface finishing tool having a rotary disk with a plurality of disk securing holes disposed thereon. The finishing tool includes a plurality of flexible or spring-like replacement blades having a plurality of replacement blade securing holes that are releasably secured directly to the disk securing holes by screw members to allow the plurality of replacement blades to perfectly align with the circumferential edge of the rotary disk to perform a smooth and polishing action. These replacement blades are easily replaced with reduced labor maintenance.
Each of the replacement blades referenced in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 7,144,194 B2 has a flat disk attachment portion with one or more securing holes therethrough for receiving the above mentioned screw members. An intermediate portion extends from the flat disk attachment portion, away from the rotary plane of the rotary disk. A surface contact portion extends from the intermediate portion, with the intermediate portion angularly disposed between the disk attachment portion and the surface contact portion.
The intermediate portion of each replacement blade is angled away from its disk attachment portion by about forty-five degrees (more or less), with the surface contact portion forming a slightly shallower angle with the intermediate portion. This results in an angle between the offset surface contact portion of each replacement blade and the disk attachment portion, and having between four and twelve degrees (more or less) when the replacement blades are installed upon the rotary disk, as shown in FIG. 7. Also, other angles may be formed as desired, but the shallow angle of the surface contact portion of the replacement blades with the underlying surface forms a working surface that (so long as the plane of the rotary disk is parallel to the underlying surface) results in the trailing edge of each replacement blade planing over the underlying surface to provide a smoothing and polishing action thereon.
Note that several prior art patents were found that teaches adjustable trowels having elongated slots or channels for changing or adjusting pitch angles for smoothing out joint compound or viscous material at wall and ceiling corners.
However, this teaching is different from the improved teaching of the instant application having an elongated slot or channel disposed on a raised flat rear portion of each of the plurality of replacement blades for adjustably receiving a pair of screw members to attach and align the plurality of replacement blades with a plurality of manufactured securing or screw holes in the rotary disk. Therefore, the elongated slots will allow the plurality of replacement blades to adjustably accommodate rotary disks of varied sizes. Also, if any of the plurality of manufactured securing or screw holes in the rotary disk are misaligned, the elongated slot or channel will allow the plurality of screw members to adjustably align with any of the misaligned manufactured securing, or screw holes within the rotary disk to secure the plurality of replacement blades to the rotary disk. This eliminates a user from having to replace the rotary disk with the misaligned manufactured securing, or screw holes with a new rotary disk.
Further, the adjustment of the plurality of replacement blades relative to the elongated slots or channels will allow the blades to be selectively adjusted at the peripheral edge of the rotary disk without the free-wheeling bearing guide ring being attached thereto, or adjusted at the peripheral edge of the free-wheeling bearing guide ring when attached to the rotary disk to smoothly finish around obstructions disposed within a concrete finishing surface and smoothly finish at wall surfaces without any damage thereto, while eliminating any hand trowel labor.
The above mentioned adjustable hand trowel patents that teach elongated slots or channels for changing or adjusting pitch angles for walls or ceiling corners are identified as follows:
U.S. Pat. No. 5,442,832 A teaches an adjustable trowel with a pair of planar blades that are hinged together along their adjacent edges and their complementary tabs. Each planar blades includes an arcuate bracket member with an arcuate slot that overlaps one another. A handle having a bolt hole for receiving a bolt member through the overlapping arcuate slots for adjustably securing the planar blades together by a washer and wing nut. This allows the plane blades to be adjusted to spread joint compound at corners and placement of the trowel at ceiling and floor lines at a variety of selective smoothing angles.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,467,497 A teaches an adjustable drywall corner tool comprising a pair of work engaging blades normally disposed substantially at a ninety degree angle to one another. A hinge extends between mating edges of the blades. An angle changing structure is cooperatively associated with the pair of blades and designed for changing the angle between the two blades, so that the blades will fit in an inside corner of more and less than the ninety degree angle. A handle extends from the angle changing structure, so that a person can grip the handle to apply taping to the corner.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,544,830 A teaches a wall corner finishing tool (see FIG. 1) includes a pair of integral blades connected by a living hinge. A pair of arcuate arms each has one end hingeably connected to the back of blades, and an opening extending along its length. The arms extend toward each other and overlap. A handle is attached to the intersection of the arms by a screw extended through the openings and into one end of the handle. When the screw is loosened, the arms can be slid toward or away from each other to adjust the angle of the blades. When the blades are positioned at a desired angle, the screw can be tightened to hold the blades in position. The angle between the front or working surfaces of the blades can be adjusted between 20 to 340 degrees. The integral living hinge connecting the pair of blades provides a smooth working surface.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,664,280 A teaches an adjustable trowel to facilitate formation of a coved corner between two structural panels comprises a blade assembly having two laterally spaced trapezoidal-shaped, rigid wing segments integrally joined along parallel inside edges by an intermediate segment which is of rectangular shape and of reduced thickness compared to the rigid wing segments to allow flexure in the area occupied by the intermediate segment. Affixed to each of the rigid wing segments are handle mounting brackets that overlap one another and include an arcuate slot therein for receiving a handle mounting bolt therethrough. By tightening the bolt by a washer and wing nut the wings are held at a selected angle to one another and with the intermediate segment assuming a desired curvature.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,699,580 A teaches an adjustable hand trowel generally comprises identically shaped first and second blade members, respectively, connected to each other and to a handle member. The handle member is secured to the blade members, by a bolt and nut arrangement. Note that the first and second blade members are adjusted by slightly loosening the bolt and nut arrangement and adjusting the intersection angle a to the desired angle that is to the angle of the corner being worked on.
The best prior art patents that teaches free-wheeling guide ring members and adjustable clearance cage guide systems are identified as follows:
U.S. Pat. No. 5,221,156 A teaches a concrete finishing machine with a disk or plate with a plurality of finishing blades that is attached thereto by a plurality of screw members as shown in FIG. 4. Also, FIG. 6 shows a free-wheeling circular metal guard plate with an associated bearing disposed about a drive shaft and located above the disk or finishing plate with the free-wheeling and bearing action of the circular metal guard plate is supported in column 2, lines 44-68.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,480,257 A teaches a concrete riding trowel machine having an adjustable guard clearance system for accommodating obstructions. The adjustable clearance system is comprised of a separate movable arc of trowel guard cage ring coupled to the cage or trowel frame by a displaceable coupling. Buffer wheels are mounted to the cage of the trowel for contacting a wall, allowing movement of the trowel along the wall when the movable arc has been retracted. These buffer wheels are mounted on axles within housings. The axles are adjustable within slots, which are generally perpendicular to the direction of travel of the trowel. This adjustment allows the buffer wheels to be moved outwardly to contact the wall when the arc is retracted. This facilitates finishing along the base of the wall. In other words, the trowel can be held against the wall with the buffer wheels riding along the wall to ensure that the finishing blades will not strike the wall and be damaged.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,658,089 A teaches a concrete hand or riding trowel machine having an adjustable guard clearance system for accommodating obstructions. The clearance system allows a trowel to finish a slab surface immediately adjacent an obstacle such as a wall, column or curb. When used to finish the slab surface adjacent a wall, the present clearance system is adapted to maintain the trowel in a spaced apart relationship with the wall while allowing finishing of the slab surface immediately adjacent the wall (See FIGS. 6 through 9). The system is comprised of a movable wing of trowel guard cage ring coupled to the cage or trowel frame by a displaceable coupling. Preferably, the movable wing comprises an elongated flat arc. The flat arc extends from one cage ring end to another cage ring end, and comprises three flat strips, a front, central and rear strips. The front strip extends outwardly from the longitudinal axis of one of the cage ring ends at approximately twenty-five degrees. Further, the central strip joins at an obtuse angle, and it is parallel to the axis of travel of trowel. The rear strip joins the central strip oppositely to the front strip, and the rear strip extends from the central strip to the other one of the cage ring ends.
The movable wing may be disposed in either a deployed position, adjacent lower ring (See FIGS. 1-3, 6 and 8) or in a retracted position (See FIGS. 7 and 9). When deployed, the movable wing is aligned with the lower ring, and it extends between the caged ring ends. When the movable wing is retracted, an unguarded segment of the rotor blades' sweep is exposed. This unguarded segment may be deployed immediately adjacent an obstacle to facilitate finishing (See FIG. 7). During such finishing, a band slides along wall to protect segment. A buffering system prevents the band from catching on the wall, and it also protects the wall from chipping and discoloring. This patent is a CIP of U.S. Pat. No. 5,480,257 A, which is recited above.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,019,545 A teaches a walk-behind trowel machine. The trowel machine includes a plurality of spaced apart finishing blades with an outermost tip portions (See FIG. 2) of the finishing blades. This outermost tip circumscribe a circle whose diameter is slightly exceeded by the effective diameter of the rotatable guard. The guard is generally in the form of a truncated cone. It is mounted for possible rotation so that it may be displaced when contacting an obstacle. Preferably it is suspended by and captivated between by a suspension system (See FIG. 4) comprising a plurality of rollers (See FIG. 2).
When the guard is moved up against the obstacle (See FIG. 1), it can rotate relative to the trowel, and it will not mar the surface of walls or other obstacles it may touch. Thus, when the guard is pressed against the obstacle (See FIG. 1), causes the lower outer ring to make contact therewith, the guard can rotate, as each roller freely enables an upper inner ring to revolve. Thus, to an appreciable extent, forces that might otherwise destabilize the trowel or guard, and that might otherwise cause marring of the obstacle surface, are dissipated. In other words, it should be appreciated that the guard is annular in form (See FIG. 5), occupying the space between the upper inner and lower outer rings. Support and rotation points are established by the radially spaced apart rollers contacting the upper inner ring of the annulus (i.e., ring 54). As the guard support points are substantially spaced apart from the center of rotation (See FIG. 5) wobbling and destabilizing forces are resisted, and more reliable trowel action results. Normally, the guard does not rotate (i.e., it is not power driven). However, when the guard contacts an obstacle it rolls along smoothly, enabling the power trowel to get as close as possible to concrete surface regions immediately adjacent the obstacle. Therefore, the guard can rotate and roll along any wall, for example, and the forces that destabilize conventional trowels in response to an obstacle contact are dissipated.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,637,974 B1 teaches a concrete surface-finishing machine having a protective cover. The protective cover is a cage made up of a series of generally circular guard rails. The surface-finishing machine has a rotating portion, which is an array of radially oriented troweling blades that travels in a generally circular path within the protective cover. This protective cover has a generally circular shape that covers the rotating blade portions along its path of travel. The protective cover further includes a pair of guard assemblies. Each guard assembly is comprised of an arm having a first end and a second end that is pivotally connected to the protective cover. Now referring to FIGS. 1 through 4, each end of the arm is rotatably connected to a pair of rollers by an attachment assembly.
The combination of the arm and the rollers are preferably designed and dimensioned so that when a first roller contacts a second surface, the other roller is also brought into contact with the second surface. A line, outside the dimensions of the protective cover, is then formed between the point of contact of the first roller and the point of contact of the second roller. Further movement of the surface-finishing machine will proceed along a line defined by the points of contact of the pair of rollers. These rollers prevent the surface-finishing machine from coming into contact with the wall or secondary surface and direct the surface-finishing machine in a generally smooth path of travel parallel to the direction of the wall or secondary surface.
Also, these rollers prevent damage to the secondary surface, the surface being finished, and the surface-finishing machine itself. Note that the freedom of rotation of the rollers is increased by the inclusion of bearings either as a part of the pair of rollers or as a part of the attachment means. The inclusions of bearings may or may not be required or necessary depending upon the particular use in which the surface-finishing machine is involved.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,399,140 B1 teaches a corded power drill, but it is contemplated that the power trowel (20) can equally be used with a battery powered drill. The power trowel (20) is chucked into the drill the same as a drill bit would be chucked into a drill. The power trowel (20) includes a plurality of spaced apart trowel blades (80, 82, 84) disposed about a central hub (32) for smoothing out concrete. Further, the trowel blades are attached to a trowel supports (81, 83 and 85) where only support (81) is identified in this FIGS. 4-8. Referring to FIG. 3, the power trowel further includes outer bearing risers (61, 63 and 65) are shown protruding from an outer ring (40). These risers include the outer bushings, bearings or holes (62 and 64) for the trowel (20) to pivot within. The inner bearing, bushings, or holes (70, 72 and 74) are shown as broken lines in FIG. 3, where they secure the inner ends of the trowel (20) and trowel supports (81, 83 and 85).
The combination trowel and trowel support are pivotably secured to the power trowel with bushings, with outer bearings or pivot points (60). Inner bearings are not shown in FIG. 3, but the combination of outer and inner bearings support the trowel blades (80, 82, 84) and allow them to pivot. The pivoting mechanism is shown and described in more detail with FIGS. 4 to 7 herein. The outer bearings, bushings exist in an outer bearing riser (61) that is welded to the outer ring or safety ring (40) that extends around the trowels to reduce the potential for harm, damage or injury from the rotating trowel blades (80, 82, 84).
A top cover (100) is shown that wraps over the sides of the blades (80, 82, 84). The cover (100) is connected to the central hub 32 with a bearing. The bearing allows the cover to spin independently from the troweling blades (80, 82, 84). This is partially useful to prevent the blades from scraping a wall or the leg of a user. When the top cover (100) comes in contact with a surface the cover stops spinning and guards the blades (80, 82, 84) from extending beyond the top cover (100). The cover (100) is designed to terminate slightly above the bottom of the blades 80 to prevent from marking the toweled surface.
In operation when the cover makes contact with a surface outside of the troweling blades (80, 82, 84) the cover (100) stops moving while the blades (80, 82, 84) continue to spin under the cover. Damage to the surface is prevented. The cover protects walls, and the user from accidentally coming in contact with the blades (80, 82, 84). The top cover has vents (102) that allow excess material to be pushed through the vents to prevent a build-up of material between the blades (80, 82, 84), safety ring (40) and the top cover (100). The ring provides a bearing surface and keeps the cover centered on the hub (32).
U.S. Pat. No. 8,075,222 B2 teaches a concrete finishing apparatus for smoothing and leveling partially set-up concrete at a support surface includes a frame portion, a first concrete working member and a second concrete working member disposed at the frame portion. The first concrete working member is rotatable about a first axis of rotation that is generally vertical when the first concrete working member is supported at a generally horizontal support surface. The second concrete working member is rotatable about a second axis of rotation that is generally vertical when the second concrete working member is supported at a generally horizontal support surface. The first and second concrete working members engage the partially set-up concrete surface at the support surface and rotate about the first and second axes of rotation to process the concrete surface.
Further, the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,973,857 A, 4,046,483 A, 5,533,830 A, 6,264,397 B1, 7,104,725 B1, 7,207,745 B2, 7,604,434 B2, 7,891,906 B2, 8757,925 B2, and 2004/0018052 A1 are hereby cited to show other prior art concrete trowel finishing devices of interest.
Note that none of the above mentioned prior patents teaches the unique present invention singly or in any combination thereof, which will be discussed in greater detail in the “Summary of the Invention”, recited below.
It is an object of the present invention to have replacement finishing blades as referenced in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 7,144,194 B2 having a flat disk attachment portion with one or more securing holes therethrough for receiving the above mentioned screw members. An intermediate portion extends from the flat disk attachment portion, away from the rotary plane of the rotary finishing disk or stabilizer. A surface contact portion extends from the intermediate portion, with the intermediate portion angularly disposed between the disk attachment portion and the surface contact portion. The intermediate portion of each replacement blade is angled away from its disk attachment portion by about forty-five degrees (more or less), with the surface contact portion forming a slightly shallower angle with the surface contact portion forming a slightly shallower angle with the intermediate portion.
This results in an angle between the offset surface contact portion of each replacement finishing blade and the disk attachment portion, and having between four and twelve degrees (more or less) when the replacement blades are installed upon the rotary finishing disk or stabilizer, as shown in FIG. 7. Other angles may be formed as desired, but the shallow angle of the surface contact portion of the replacement finishing blades with the underlying surface being worked (so long as the plane of the rotary finishing disk or stabilizer is parallel to the underlying surface) results in the trailing edge of each replacement finishing blade planing over the underlying surface to provide a smoothing and polishing action thereon.
It is another object of the present invention to provide the plurality of replacement finishing blades having a pair of elongated slots disposed on the raised flat rear portion of the plurality of replacement blades for adjustably receiving a pair of screw members to attach and align the plurality of replacement blades with a plurality of securing or threaded holes in the rotary finishing disk or stabilizer. The elongated slots will allow the plurality of replacement finishing blades to be adjusted proximate the peripheral edge of rotary finishing disks of varied sizes to smoothly finish concrete surfaces or other viscous material surfaces, as well, as finishing smoothly around vertical obstructions within the surface material. Note that the replacement blades and the rotary finishing disk or stabilizer may be constructed from diverse types of plastics and metals, if desired. Preferably, the replacement blades are made from spring-like metal material that is able to flex and float over a viscous surface, such as concrete for smoothing out and finishing the concrete surface.
Further, the elongated slots will allow the plurality of replacement finishing blades to adjust and align perfectly with any misaligned manufactured securing, or threaded screw holes within a rotary finishing disk or stabilizer with a plurality of screw members. This eliminates a user from having to replace the rotary finishing disk or stabilizer in order to accommodate the plurality of replacement finishing blades.
Another object of the present invention provides the screw members with a selective fine pitch thread. The selective fine thread members extend through the rotary finishing disk or stabilizer at a selective distance at a top portion thereof that will prevent debris, concrete, and other viscous or plastic material from penetrating into the threaded screw holes of the rotary disks and preventing damage to the threads that can cause loosening and wobbling of the replacement finishing blades relative to the rotary finishing disk or stabilizer.
A further object of the present invention provides a free-wheeling bearing guide ring assembly that is attached directly to and extend slightly beyond the outer periphery of a rotary finishing disk or stabilizer. This allows the replacement finishing blades to be selectively adjusted at and not beyond the peripheral edge of the free-wheeling bearing guide ring assembly via the aforementioned elongated slots or channels of the replacement blades to smoothly finish concrete or viscous surfaces around obstructions and along wall surfaces.
The free-wheeling bearing guide ring assembly of the present invention includes a first member attached inward of and directly around and adjacent the outer peripheral edge of the rotary finishing disk or stabilizer. The first member is an annular non-rotating ring including a first portion defining a plurality of spaced apart non-rotating arm members and a second portion defining a plurality of connector screw tabs with screw securing holes disposed therein. Also, the plurality of spaced apart non-rotating arms are integrally connected to the plurality of connector screw tabs at a bent section and extending angularly up there from with an integral forward end attached perpendicular to an intermediate rear inner face surface of the annular non-rotating ring. The annular non-rotating ring further includes upper and lower radial extending clip fastening members with an outward forward end having a tapered or bevel portion. A plurality of screw members are provided to be inserted via the screw securing holes of the plurality of connector screw tabs to securely attach the annular non-rotating ring directly to and inward of the outer peripheral edge of the rotary disk. Further, the angle of the plurality of spaced apart non-rotating arm members provides a space there below to define a clearance between the lower radial extending clip fastening member and the top of the rotary finishing disk or stabilizer.
A front outer face surface of the annular non-rotating ring having an annular self-lubricating bearing rail spacer member disposed along an intermediate portion thereof, and opposite the integral end of the non-rotating arm that is attached to the intermediate rear inner face surface.
Another object of the present invention provides a second member defined as an annular free-rotating bearing cover guide ring having a front outer face surface and a rear inner face surface. The rear inner face surface engages and encloses the front outer face surface of the annular non-rotating ring and the bearing rail spacer member when the second member is secured to the upper and lower radial extending clip fastening members of the first member by upper and lower fastening clips of the annular free-rotating bearing cover guide ring. The upper and lower fastening clips of the annular free-rotating bearing cover guide ring having one end attached to and radially extending from the annular free-rotating bearing cover guide ring at top and bottom portions thereof with an outward end having an outer or bevel portion, and a lower portion integrally attached to the outer tapered or bevel portion with a radially extending outward end defining a latching fastener, such as bead member. The outer outward forward end of the annular free-rotating bearing cover guide ring having an inner tapered or bevel portion that aligns with and spaced from the outer tapered or bevel portion of the upper and lower radial extending clip fastening members of the first member at the top and bottom portions thereof defining a clearance gap therebetween that will always prevent the annular free-rotating bearing cover guide ring from hitting the top of the rotary disk finishing disk or stabilizer during a concrete or viscous material finishing and smoothing operation.
In a first embodiment, a fastening cavity is disposed below the top radial portion and above the bottom radial portion of the upper and lower radial extending clip fastening members of the first member. When the second member, the annular free-rotating bearing cover guide ring member, is completely attached to the first member, the annular non-rotating ring, the upper and lower fastening clips of the annular free-rotating bearing cover guide ring are received over the outer tapered or bevel portion of the top and bottom portions of the upper and lower radial extending clip fastening members of the first member with the fastening bead member loosely and firmly fitted within the fastening cavity that is disposed below the top radial portion and above the bottom radial portion of the upper and lower radial extending clip fastening members of the first member.
This fastening arrangement causes the rear face of the free-rotating bearing cover guide ring member to engage and move along the annular self-lubricating bearing rail and spacer member when a prime mover rotates the rotary finishing disk or stabilizer with the replacement finishing blades for smoothly finishing a concrete or viscous material surface. Once the rear face of the free-rotating bearing cover guide ring member engages the annular self-lubricating bearing rail spacer member, the clearance space defined between the inner tapered or bevel portions of the upper and lower fastening clips of the annular free-rotating bearing cover guide ring of the second member and spaced from the tapered or bevel portion of the upper and lower radial extending clip fastening members of the first member at the top and bottom portions is always maintained.
This clearance space allows the annular free-rotating bearing cover guide ring of the second member to freely rotate along the annular self-lubricating bearing rail and spacer member without binding as the fastening bead member moves easily and freely within the fastening cavity that is disposed below the top radial portion and above the bottom radial portion of the upper and lower radial extending clip fastening members of the first member. Optionally, the fastening cavity can be omitted. The omission of the fastening cavity will allow the fastening bead of the annular free-rotating bearing cover guide ring of the second member to snap fit firmly against and below the top radial portion and above the bottom radial portion of the upper and lower radial extending clip fastening members of the first member to rotate freely thereon without binding. Note that the annular free-rotating bearing cover guide ring of the second member is able to freely rotate along the annular self-lubricating bearing rail and spacer member without binding as the fastening bead member moves easily and freely without the fastening cavity as mentioned above, and as it does with the fastening cavity as discussed above.
According to another object of the present invention, a second embodiment of the first member, the annular non-rotating ring that is attached to the rotary disk or stabilizer having at least a pair of separate semi-circular non-rotating ring members that abuts one another to form a single annular ring member when attached to the rotary finishing disk or stabilizer. Each of the at least a pair of separate semi-circular non-rotating ring members has a rear inner face surface, and a front outer face surface.
Also, each of the separate semi-circular non-rotating ring members includes a plurality of spaced apart non-rotating arm members having a portion extending angularly up from an integral bent section with one end integrally attached to a rear inner face surface of the separate semi-circular non-rotating ring members and the other end integrally attached to a plurality of connector screw tabs in the same manner as the annular non-rotating ring of the first embodiment as discussed above, and the plurality of connector screw tabs having screw securing holes disposed therein. Further, a plurality of screw members are provided to be inserted via the screw securing holes of the plurality of connector screw tabs of each of the separate semi-circular non-rotating ring members to securely attach each of the separate semi-circular non-rotating ring members directly to and inward of the outer peripheral edge of the rotary disk in the same manner as the annular non-rotating ring of the first embodiment as discussed above.
Each of the separate semi-circular non-rotating ring members having a semi-annular upper and lower radial extending clip fastening members with an outward forward end having a tapered or bevel portion and top and bottom radial portions thereof. A fastening cavity is disposed below the top radial portion and above the bottom radial portion of each of the semi-annular upper and lower radial extending clip fastening members in the same manner as discussed above for the first embodiment. The front outer face surface of each one of the separate semi-circular non-rotating ring members include an annular self-lubricating bearing rail and spacer member disposed along an intermediate portion thereof, and opposite the one end of the non-rotating arm that is attached to the intermediate rear inner face surface of each one of the separate semi-circular non-rotating ring members and the annular self-lubricating bearing rail and spacer members disposed along intermediate front outer face surfaces thereof, in the same manner as discussed above for the first embodiment.
In order to not be redundant, the aforementioned discussion of the second member and how it is attached to the annular non-rotating ring of the first embodiment is the same as the second member and how it is attached to the at least a pair of separate semi-circular non-rotating rings that abuts one another defining a single annular member of the second embodiment that utilizes the same fastening clip arrangement for securing the same second member to each one of the annular non-rotary rings of the first and second embodiments. Another object of the present invention is to provide the annular self-lubricating bearing rail and spacer member of the annular non-rotary ring of the first embodiment and the annular self-lubricating bearing rail and spacer member of the at least a pair of semi-circular nonrotary rings of the second embodiment comprising a plurality of self-lubricating ball bearings disposed therein.
In one bearing illustration, the annular self-lubricating bearing rail and spacer member of the annular non-rotary ring of the first embodiment and the annular self-lubricating bearing rail and spacer member of the at least a pair of semi-circular non-rotary rings of the second embodiment includes a top surface, a bottom surface, and a front surface including an annular channel or cavity in the annular non-rotary ring of the first embodiment and a channel or cavity in each of the semi-circular non-rotary rings to receive a plurality of spaced apart ball bearings therein with a portion of the ball bearings extending partially outward thereof and partially inward of the annular channel or cavity of the annular non-rotary ring and each of the semi-circular cavity of the semi-circular non-rotary rings. The plurality of spaced apart ball bearings can be selected from a group consisting of a plurality of bearing races with a plurality of spaced apart ball bearings disposed therein or having a plurality of separate and spaced apart ball bearings. Note that the plurality of bearing races and the plurality of separate and spaced apart ball bearings can be loosely snap fitted within the annular channel or cavity of the annular non-rotary ring and each of the semi-circular cavity of the semi-circular non-rotary rings for easy movement therein.
In another bearing illustration, the front surface of the annular self-lubricating bearing rail and spacer member of the annular non-rotary ring of the first embodiment and the annular self-lubricating bearing rail and spacer member of the at least a pair of semi-circular non-rotary rings of the second embodiment includes a plurality of separate and spaced apart holes or cavities that receives a ball bearing member therein. The ball bearing members can be loosely snap fitted within each of the plurality of separated and spaced apart holes or cavities for easy movement therein.
A further bearing illustration, shows that the rear inner face surface of the second member, the annular free-rotating bearing cover guide ring, includes an annular channel disposed thereon for receiving the different ball bearing arrangements when the second member is secured to the upper and lower radial extending clip fastening members of the first member by upper and lower fastening clips of the annular free-rotating bearing cover guide ring. This fastening arrangement causes the rear inner face surface of the free-rotating bearing cover guide ring member to engage and move along the different ball bearing arrangements when a prime mover rotates the rotary finishing disk or stabilizer with the replacement finishing blades attached thereto for smoothly finishing a concrete or viscous material surface.
Note that the annular non-rotary ring of the first embodiment and the semi-circular non-rotary ring members of the second embodiment, and the second member, the free-rotating bearing cover guide ring member is preferably made from self-lubricating plastics, such as Teflon. Other self-lubricating material may be selected from other plastics such as Delrin, a non-metal, such as, carbon graphite, metals fabricated with various self-lubricating coatings, one such as molybdenum disulphide (MoS2) with PTFE could be used, if desired.
This self-lubricating plastic, such as Teflon will allow the free-wheeling bearing cover guide ring member to easily rotate relative to the annular non-rotary ring of the first embodiment and the annular non-rotary ring defined by the at least a pair of semi-circular non-rotary ring members of the second embodiment and the second member in one direction when it engages a wall structure or an obstruction and rotate in an opposite direction when it moves away from the wall structure or the obstruction during a viscous material finishing operation. Also, this free-wheeling bearing cover guide ring member is designed to overcome and destabilize forces that can cause vibration and wobbling of a mini-powered trowel device as the cover guide ring engages a wall structure, and any upstanding obstructions such as electrical and plumbing stubbs, while preventing damage or marking thereto.
It is to be understood that the stabilizer for attaching the plurality of replacement finishing blades thereto is not limited to a rotary finishing stabilizer or disk. The stabilizer can be selected from other types of attachment members for securing the plurality of replacement finishing blades thereto, such as, a spider member, a plurality of bar members, or a plurality of radial extending arm members, if desired. Note that the spider member, a plurality of bar members, or a plurality of radial extending arm members have open spaces there between. However, the rotary finishing disk of the present invention and is the selected and preferred stabilizer member for the plurality of replacement finishing blades because of the following benefits. The benefits of the rotary finishing stabilizer or disk over the other types of stabilizer members are 1) provides no open spaces that would allow concrete or other viscous type material to fly upward there through towards a user, and 2) the non-open spaces of the rotary finishing disk eliminates a user's clothing, long hair, or other items from being entangled with the plurality of replacement finishing blades to prevent major injuries to a user.
Additional aspects, objectives, features and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description and the appended claims of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The present invention may be better understood, along with its numerous objects, features, and advantages made apparent to those skilled in the art by referencing the accompanying drawings.
The present invention defines a surface finishing tool with a rotary surface finishing stabilizer or disk with a plurality of replacement blades having a pair of adjustable and elongated slots for adjusting the plurality of replacement blades near a peripheral edge of the rotary surface finishing stabilizer or disk and a near a peripheral edge of a free-wheeling bearing guide ring assembly when attached to the rotary surface finishing stabilizer or disk, which will be discussed in greater detail below.
As shown in
The inventive concept of the elongated shaped screw slots 25 will now be discussed. These elongated shaped screw slots 25 will allow the replacement blade member 21 to be selectively adjusted at or near a peripheral edge of a rotary surface finishing disk to are able to finish right at wall structures and around electrical or plumbing stubb obstructions within concrete and other viscous or plastic surfaces, while allowing for smooth finishing at the wall structures and around the electrical or plumbing stubb obstructions, thus eliminating the need for any additional labor intensive hand finishing.
A further inventive concept of the elongated shaped screw slots 25 is designed to allow the replacement blade member 21 to be selectively adjusted at or near a peripheral edge of an annular free-wheeling bearing guide ring assembly 50, 60, 70 as referenced in FIGS. 5A-5B and 6A-C of the instant application. Note that details of the annular free-wheeling bearing guide ring assembly 50, 60, 70 will be discussed later.
The selective adjustment of the screw members 26 within the elongated slots 25 will allow the replacement blade member 21 to finish right at wall structures and around electrical or plumbing stubb obstructions within concrete and other viscous or plastic surfaces, while allowing for smooth finishing at the wall structures and around the electrical or plumbing stubb obstructions upon the annular free-wheeling bearing guide ring assembly 50, 60, 70 engaging the wall structures and the electrical or plumbing stubb obstructions without damaging or marking thereto, thus eliminating the need for any additional labor intensive hand finishing.
Now referring to
In order to not be redundant, the inventive concepts and operation of
Note that
To not be redundant,
However, the inventive concept of the elongated shaped screw slots 37 will now be discussed. These elongated shaped screw slots 37 will allow the replacement blade member 36 to be selectively adjusted at or near a peripheral edge of a rotary surface finishing stabilizer or disk in order to finish right at wall structures and around electrical or plumbing stubb obstructions within concrete and other viscous or plastic surfaces, while allowing for smooth finishing at the wall structures and around the electrical or plumbing stubb obstructions, thus eliminating the need for any additional labor intensive hand finishing.
A further inventive concept of the elongated shaped screw slots 37 and the arcuate or bow-shaped screw slots 37b are designed to allow the replacement blade members 36 to be selectively adjusted at or near a peripheral edge of an annular free-wheeling bearing guide ring assembly 50, 60, 70 as referenced in
The selective adjustment of the screw members 37a within the elongated shaped screw slots 37 and the arcuate or bow-shaped screw slots 37b will allow the replacement blade members 36 to finish right at wall structures and around electrical or plumbing stubb obstructions within concrete and other viscous or plastic surfaces, while allowing for smooth finishing at the wall structures and around the electrical or plumbing stubb obstructions upon the annular free-wheeling bearing guide ring assembly 50, 60, 70 engaging the wall structures and the electrical or plumbing stubb obstructions without damaging or marking thereto, thus eliminating the need for any additional labor intensive hand finishing.
Note that
Details of
Another inventive concept as shown in
In addition, the selective positions of the plurality of screw members 47a in
It is to be noted that the above offset alignment accommodation between the screw holes 51c and the elongated shaped screw slots 25, 37 and 47 and the elongated arcuate or bow-shaped screw slots 25a, 37b and 47b eliminates a user from having to replace a rotary finishing stabilizer or disk due to any offset manufactured holes 51c, whereby a user would have to replace a rotary finishing stabilizer or disk with the pair of single-type screw holes 15 of the plurality of spaced apart replacement finishing blades 21 as shown in the prior art as illustrated above in
Another inventive concept of the present invention provides the screw members 26, 26a, 37a and 47a as shown in
Further, the plurality of spaced apart non-rotating arm members 52 are angled upward from a bent point 52b at a front end of the integral connector tabs 52d to a rear end face defined by an upper portion 53b and a lower portion 53b′ at an intermediate intersecting location of the clip fastening structure 52a. This intermediate intersecting location defines an upper radial extending clip fastening member 54 and lower radial extending clip fastening member 54′ of the clip fastening structure 52a, which are identical. The upper radial extending clip fastening member 54 includes a top end portion 54b, an outward tapered or bevel rear end portion 54a, and a bottom end portion 54c extending inward from the outward tapered or bevel rear end portion 54a.
Note that the lower radial extending clip fastening member 54′ is the reverse or flip position of the upper radial extending clip fastening member 54. Therefore, the lower radial extending clip fastening member 54′ includes a top end portion 54c′, an outward tapered or bevel rear end portion 54a′, and a bottom end portion 54b′ extending inward from the outward tapered or bevel rear end portion 54a′ extending towards the front end 51a of the rotary finishing disk or stabilizer but selectively spaced from the peripheral edge of the front end 51a. The purpose for the selectively spacing will be discussed in greater detail later.
Between the upward angled plurality of spaced apart non-rotating arm members 52 and the rotary finishing stabilizer or disk 51 an open clearance space 59 is formed therebetween. The lower radial extending clip fastening member 54′ is disposed within the open clearance space 59. Therefore, the bottom end portion 54b′ is positioned within the open clearance space 59 at a selective distance above the top portion of the rotary finishing stabilizer or disk 51 creating a clearance gap 59a therebetween.
Further, the annular non-rotary ring 53 includes a front outer face surface 53a. The front outer face surface 53a of the annular non-rotating ring 53 having an annular self-lubricating bearing rail spacer member 55 disposed along an intermediate portion thereof, and opposite the integral end of the non-rotating arm 52 that is attached to the intermediate rear end face defined by the upper portion 53b and a lower portion 53b′ at the intermediate intersecting location of the clip fastening structure 52a.
A free-wheeling bearing guide ring assembly 50 of the present invention having a second member including an upper clip member and a lower clip member that are removably attached to the clip fastening structure 52a for free movement there along in different directions about the annular non-rotating ring 53 at its upper and lower ends thereof.
Further in
The lower clip member of the annular free-rotating bearing cover guide ring 56 is a reverse orientation of the upper clip member of the annular free-rotating bearing cover guide ring 56. This means that the annular top outer portion 56a of the upper clip member represents the bottom outer end portion 56a′ of the lower clip member and the bottom outer end portion 56d of the upper clip member represents the annular top outer portion 56d′. Therefore, the referenced elements of the lower clip member will now be discussed.
In
In operation, the upper clip member 56a-56j of the annular free-rotating bearing cover guide ring 56 is received over the upper part of the clip fastening structure 52a and the upper clip fastening member defined by 53a-53b, and 54-54j and a lower part of the clip fastening structure 52a and the lower clip fastening member defined by 53a′-53b′ and 54′-54j′. When this fastening takes place, the upper fastening bead member 56e of the annular free-rotating bearing cover guide ring 56 will snap underneath and engage the upper bottom end portion 54c of the annular non-rotary ring 53 and the lower fastening bead member 56e′ of the annular free-rotating bearing cover guide ring 56 will snap over and engage the lower top end portion 54c′ of the annular non-rotary ring 53. Once this happens, the rear inner face surface 56i of the annular free-rotating bearing cover guide ring 56 encloses the front outer face surface 53a of the annular non-rotating ring 53 and the clip fastening structure 52a and engages the annular bearing rail spacer member 55 of the annular non-rotary ring 53.
The engagement of the annular free-rotating bearing cover guide ring 56 against the annular bearing rail spacer member 55 of the annular non-rotary ring 53 forms annular space 57 between the front outer face surface 53a of the annular non-rotating ring 53, the rear inner face surface 56i of the annular free-rotating bearing cover guide ring 56, the upper part of the clip fastening structure 52a and the upper clip fastening member defined by 53a-53b, and 54-54j and a lower part of the clip fastening structure 52a and the lower clip fastening member defined by 53a′-53b′ and 54′-54j′. This space allows the annular free-rotating bearing cover guide ring 56 to rotate freely without any binding around and along the non-rotary ring 53. Also, the annular free-rotating bearing cover guide ring 56 is able to rotate freely in different direction around along the non-rotary ring 53 when the annular free-rotating bearing cover guide ring 56 abuts or engages a wall structure, and plumbing or electrical obstructions upstanding in a concrete or viscous material surface during a concrete or viscous material smoothing and finishing operation. This abutment or engagement of the annular free-rotating bearing cover guide ring 56 against a wall structure, and plumbing or electrical obstructions eliminates markings or damage thereto.
The dimension of the clearance gap 59a formed between the bottom end portion 54b′ and the top portion of the rotary finishing stabilizer or disk decreases after the annular free-rotating bearing cover guide ring 56 is fastened to the annular non-rotary ring 53, but the decrease in the dimension of the clearance gap 59a will still be sufficient to prevent the annular free-rotating bearing cover guide ring 56 from hitting the top of the rotary finishing stabilizer or disk 51 during a concrete or viscous material smoothing operation.
Note that
Now referring to
The attachment portion 24a includes a pair of elongated arcuate or bow-shaped attachment screw slots 25a disposed therein, a pair of screw members 26a to be received within the elongated arcuate or bow-shaped attachment screw slots 25a to secure the plurality of selectively spaced and adjustable replacement finishing blade members 21a to the rotary surface finishing stabilizer or disk 61. Also, the plurality of selectively spaced and adjustable replacement blade members 21a further includes a trailing edge 27a, and an outer bent edge 28a. As shown in
The exploded view of
Further, the plurality of spaced apart non-rotating arm members 52 are angled upward from a bent point 52b at a front end of the integral connector tabs 52d to the clip fastening structure 52a integrally attached to the annular non-rotary ring 53. 53a represents the front face of the annular non-rotary ring 53.
Note that the annular non-rotary ring 53, the annular bearing rail spacer member 55, the annular free-rotating bearing cover guide ring 56 and the ball bearings are preferably made from self-lubricating plastics, such as Teflon. Other self-lubricating material may be selected from other plastics such as Delrin, a non-metal, such as, carbon graphite, metals fabricated with various self-lubricating coatings, one such as molybdenum disulphide (MoS2) with PTFE could be used, if desired.
It is noted that the plurality of spaced apart non-rotating arm members 52 with the integral connector tabs 52d and the clip fastening structure 52a is formed from varied plastics as a single die-cast plastic molded member integral with the annular non-rotary ring 53, or this single molded member can be attached to the annular non-rotary ring 53 by varied bonding types selected from the group consisting of cements, adhesives, glues, welding, or soldering, if desired. Also, the plurality of spaced apart non-rotating arm members 52 with the integral connector tabs 52d and the clip fastening structure 52a integrally attached to the annular non-rotary ring 53 can be formed by metal stamping selected from the group consisting of aluminum alloys, brass alloys, copper alloys, nickel alloys, steel, and stainless steel, if desired. Further, the plurality of spaced apart non-rotating arm members 52 with the integral connector tabs 52d and the clip fastening structure 52a defining a single member could be attached to the annular non-rotary ring 53 by varied mechanical fastening means selected from the group consisting of screw type members, nut and bolt members, rivets, pins, anchors, and other specialized threaded fasteners, such as, captive threaded fasteners, stud threaded inserts, and threaded rods to name just a few. Other types of mechanical fastening means could be utilized, if desired.
While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. There, the invention should not be limited by the above described embodiments, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention as claimed.
