The present disclosure relates to a tool, in particular to a tool that is suitable for conditioning a plastic blade of a plastering tool, such as a plaster trowel suitable for smoothing and levelling wet finish coat plaster applied to a surface such as a wall or ceiling.
Conventionally, plaster is applied to walls and ceilings using a plaster trowel which comprises a flat rectangular sheet (otherwise referred to as a ‘blade’) having dimensions of about 280 mm to 460 mm by 120 mm with a generally cylindrical handle mounted spaced from and parallel to the sheet. The same tool is used for smoothing and levelling the plaster once it has been applied.
Conventionally, the blades of plaster trowels were formed from metal, however, plastic bladed plaster trowels have become increasingly popular with plasterers, as an alternative method of finishing the plasterwork.
Plastic bladed trowels do, however, suffer the disadvantage that the blade is more prone to damage, such as nicks to the edges of the blade. It is crucial for achieving a good finish that the edge of the blade is straight and smooth, which means that generally once a blade is damaged it must be discarded, since filing or sanding the edge of the blade to remove the damage invariably ends with a blade that has a slightly curved or imperfect edge unsuitable for finishing the plasterwork.
The present invention arose in a bid to provide a tool that will enable accurate conditioning of a blade following damage or otherwise.
According to the present invention in a first aspect, there is provided a tool for conditioning a plastic blade of a plastering tool, the tool comprising a first guide means and a conditioning blade, wherein the first guide means is arranged to receive an edge portion of the plastering tool blade for guiding movement of the plastering tool blade relative to the conditioning blade, wherein the conditioning blade is curved, so that a curved profile is applied to the edge of the plastering tool blade.
According to the present invention in a further aspect, there is provided a tool for conditioning a plastic blade of a plastering tool, the tool comprising a first guide means and a conditioning blade, wherein the first guide means is arranged to receive an edge portion of the plastering tool blade for guiding movement of the plastering tool blade relative to the conditioning blade. The blade may be straight or curved.
The first guide means may comprise an elongate channel extending along the length of the tool, the elongate channel being arranged such that an edge portion of the plastering tool blade may be received by the channel in a slack fit which permits sliding movement of the edge portion of the plastering tool blade along the channel, and the conditioning blade is mounted in or adjacent to the channel.
By the provision of a guide means and a conditioning blade together, it is possible to shave the edge from a plastering tool, thus removing nicks or other damage, whilst ensuring that the edge of the plastering tool remains straight. A working portion of the guide means extending straight and guiding the plastering tool blade through its interaction with the blade.
The tool preferably comprises a second guide means and an abrasive element, wherein the second guide means is arranged to receive an edge portion of the plastering tool blade for guiding movement of the plastering tool blade relative to the abrasive element.
By the provision of a guide means and an abrasive element together, it is possible to finish and smooth the edge of a plastering tool to provide a desired edge profile, whilst again ensuring that the edge of the plastering tool remains straight. A working portion of the guide means extending straight and guiding the plastering tool blade through its interaction with the abrasive element.
Further, preferable, features are presented in the dependent claims.
Non-limiting embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
With reference to
The channel 2 is arranged such that an edge portion of the plastering tool blade may be received by the channel in a slack fit which permits sliding movement of the edge portion of the plastering tool blade along the channel 2. The channel 2 thereby guides movement of the plastering tool blade relative to the conditioning blade 3, which is mounted in the channel 2. The elongate groove 4 is arranged to receive an edge portion of the plastering tool blade for guiding movement of the plastering tool blade relative to the abrasive element 5.
It should be noted that the plastering tool to be conditioned may be pushed or pulled across the conditioning blade 3 during use of the tool.
The blade 3 allows for the removal of nicks or other damage from a plastering tool blade by shaving material from the blade. The abrasive element allows for the smoothing of the blade, generally after the blade has been shaved/repaired.
The tool 1 is arranged to be grasped one handed, with a plastering tool (not shown) grasped in the other hand, wherein the plastering tool may be engaged with the tool 1 and the tool 1 and plastering tool can be moved relative to one another is a sliding motion.
In simplified arrangements, the elongate groove 4 and abrasive element 5 may be omitted.
It is preferable, as shown, that the tool comprises a main body 10. The main body is most preferably formed from plastic. It may be moulded or extruded or otherwise formed, as will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art. It may be formed unitarily, i.e. as a single piece. More preferably, however, it will be formed in multiple parts. In the present arrangement it is formed in two halves 10a, 10b as shown. The main body may be arranged such that it can be separated into two parts for cleaning or the replacement of the blade 3. Alternatively, the two halves may be permanently attached to one another, by ultra-sonic welding or otherwise.
The channel 2 preferably extends (in the longitudinal direction) along substantially the entire length of the tool 1 and is preferably open at both of its ends. It is preferable that the channel 2 is open at both of its ends, since not only is it then easy to engage the plastering tool blade with the channel 2, and to pass the plastering tool over the blade 3, but also it is easy to clean out swarf or other residue that may collect in the channel 2 during use. In alternative arrangements, however, the channel 2 may be closed at its end distal to the blade 3.
The channel 2 comprises a base 6 against which the edge of the plastering tool blade may be slid. The base in the present arrangement is straight across its width and along its entire length. Moreover, the channel 2 is square adjacent the base 6 with side walls 7a, 7b of the channel, upstanding from either side of the base, extending away from the straight base perpendicular thereto, as seen in
The conditioning blade 3 extends across the entire width of the base at a predetermined height above the level of the base 6. In the present arrangement the blade has a curved profile across the width of the base, as seen in
The blade is positioned at or adjacent to a first end of the channel 2 in the longitudinal direction. It may be located at a point along the length of the channel 2 or may be located beyond the channel. Various positions will be suitable for the blade 3 to perform its task of shaving material from the edge of the blade of the plastering tool. The blade may be metal. It may, for example be formed from tungsten or stainless steel. It may alternatively be formed from a ceramic material. A range of suitable blade materials will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art.
The blade may be oriented perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the channel 2 (and tool 1) or may be provided at an oblique angle thereto. The views of
In alternative arrangements, rather than the base being straight across its entire length, it may have a stepped arrangement with a first level that is straight in the longitudinal direction and a second level that is higher than the first level and is straight in the longitudinal direction. Here the blade will extend above the first level to the height of the second level, such that the working edge of the blade is at the same level as the second level of the base. In such an arrangement, the first level of the base guides the plastering tool blade to the blade and the second level of the base guides the plastering tool beyond the blade. The difference in height between the first and second levels may be 0.05 to 0.2 mm, in accordance with the discussion above. Such an arrangement provides additional support to the blade. In such an arrangement, the blade may be spaced inwardly from a longitudinal edge of the channel by a greater distance than in the other arrangements described herein. It may be around a mid-point of the channel. All other features/alternatives discussed herein remain applicable to this alternative arrangement.
In both the arrangements of
In both
In the arrangement of
The side walls 7a, 7b, as seen in
The elongate groove 4 is curved in the width direction and straight in the longitudinal direction. It may be curved across its entire width as seen in
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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1416160.8 | Sep 2014 | GB | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/GB2015/052613 | 9/10/2015 | WO | 00 |