Patent Grant
8707501
1. Field
The present disclosure relates generally to masonry tools and, more particularly, to a tool for pointing or filling joints formed between bullnose paving stones or pavers.
2. Description of the Related Art
A swimming pool coping is a structure which functions to cap the upper edge of the side walls of a swimming pool and to provide a transitional element between the side walls and the horizontal deck surrounding the pool. Usually, the coping extends around the periphery of the pool and includes a convex-shaped rounded portion which faces toward the interior of the pool and serves as a hand hold for swimmers to rest or to climb into or out of the pool. Swimming pool copings are constructed of various materials including preformed cement, brick or stone pavers.
Referring to
During construction of the pool or installation of the pavers, the plurality of pavers 12 are set in place upon a base 18 of various materials, which may include sand, gravel, concrete, etc. Generally, each paver 12 is set by applying a layer of mortar 20 upon the base 18, laying the pavers upon the layer of mortar 20 and leveling each paver relative to each other. When laying the pavers 12, a joint or space 22 is provided between each paver 12. Each joint 22 is then filled with mortar or grout, also known as pointing.
It is generally difficult to fill the joint 22 near the convex-shaped rounded portion 16 of bullnose pavers. Since the portion 16 extends over the edge of the pool wall, there is no supporting structure to hold the mortar or grout in place until it begins to harden. Furthermore, a mason would prefer to have the mortar or grout have the same shape as the convex-shaped rounded portion 16. One prior method to accomplish this was to overfill the joint 22 between the portion 16 of two adjacent pavers with mortar or grout and then shape the same with a finger of the mason or installer. However, this often results in uneven joints throughout the installation that are physically unappealing and in a large amount of debris, e.g., mortar or grout 24, falling into the pool.
Therefore, a need exists for devices and techniques for pointing or filling joints formed between bullnose paving stones or pavers.
A tool for pointing or filling joints formed between bullnose paving stones or pavers and method thereof are provided.
According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a tool for filling joints between at least two adjacent bullnose coping pavers is provided, the tool including an arcuate, resilient body having an inner, concave-shaped surface and an outer, convex-shaped surface, the arcuate, resilient body configured to conform to a convex-shaped rounded portion of each of the at least two adjacent bullnose coping pavers; and a handle coupled to the outer, convex-shaped surface for manipulating the body.
In another aspect, an opening of the arcuate, resilient body has an angle of about 45 degrees to about 90 degrees.
In a further aspect, the arcuate, resilient body includes a shape-memory material. In one embodiment, the arcuate, resilient body includes a shape-memory alloy with a rubber coating disposed over the arcuate, resilient body.
In yet a further aspect, the tool includes at least one friction portion on the inner surface of the arcuate, resilient body to facilitate the body gripping the at least two adjacent bullnose coping pavers.
In still another aspect, the handle is replaceably coupled to the arcuate, resilient body.
In another aspect, the tool includes a finishing member coupled to and extending away from the handle configured to smooth the joint formed between the at least two adjacent bullnose coping pavers.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method for filling joints between at least two adjacent bullnose coping pavers is provided, the method including providing a tool including an arcuate, resilient body having an inner, concave-shaped surface and an outer, convex-shaped surface and a handle coupled to the outer, convex-shaped surface for manipulating the body; positioning the body of the tool over a joint formed between at least two adjacent bullnose coping pavers, wherein the arcuate, resilient body is configured to conform to a convex-shaped rounded portion of each of the at least two adjacent bullnose coping pavers; filling the joint with a suitable material until the suitable material conforms to the convex-shaped rounded portion of each of the at least two adjacent bullnose coping pavers; and removing the body of the tool from the at least two adjacent bullnose coping pavers.
The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent in light of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
The present description illustrates the principles of the present disclosure. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the disclosure and are included within its spirit and scope.
All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the disclosure and the concepts contributed by the inventor to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions.
Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the disclosure, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future, i.e., any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless of structure.
The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any configuration or design described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other configurations or designs.
Referring to
The generally cylindrical handle 104 has its ends 112 and 114 supported by a bracket 116 that is attached to the outer convex-shaped surface 108 of body 102. The handle 104 is coupled to the bracket 116 by any conventional means, e.g., screws 118. It is to be appreciated that the handle and bracket can be made from a variety of materials. For example, the handle may be constructed of wood, rubber, plastic, metal, etc. Likewise, the bracket may be constructed of similar materials. In one embodiment, the handle 104 and bracket 116 can be constructed from the same material, for example, can be molded from a high-strength plastic or resin.
The bracket 116 is coupled to the body 102 by a fastener 120 or any conventional means, e.g., rivets. It is to be appreciated that the fastener 120 may depend on the material used for the body 102.
In a further embodiment, the handle 104 and bracket 116 is a unitary structure, e.g., molded from a high-strength plastic or resin, and is replaceably coupled to the body 102. In this embodiment, the body 102 may be replaceable if worn or has become unusable, for example, grout or cement has dried to the inner surface 106 distorting the concave shape. Here, the bracket may include a connection means for releasably engaging the body 102, e.g., a clip, bolt, tongue and groove connection, etc.
In one embodiment, the generally cylindrical body 102 is constructed from a shape-memory material that will allow the body 102 to deform when placed over the convex-shaped rounded portion of bullnose coping pavers and return to its original shape when removed from the bullnose coping pavers. Referring to
By employing a shape-memory material, the tool 100 can be used on bullnose coping pavers of various sizes. The body 102 of tool 100 will conform to the first paver and then return to its original shape when removed. If a subsequent paver is of a different size, the body 102 will then conform to the size of the subsequent paver. This will eliminate the need to have various tools of different sizes and one tool 100 can be used for a complete installation.
It is to be appreciated that the body 102 can be constructed from a variety of shape-memory materials. In one embodiment, the body 102 can be constructed of a shape-memory alloy. In another embodiment, the body 102 may be constructed of a shape-memory alloy or metal coated with rubber. In other embodiments, the body 102 may be constructed from rubber or plastic having shape-memory characteristics. Other resilient materials that allow the body 102 to be bent, pulled, twisted, etc. before reforming its shape when released are contemplated to be within the scope of the present disclosure.
Referring to
In this manner, the tool 100 of the present disclosure minimizes or eliminates the amount of cement, grout, dust or any other material that falls into a pool while pointing the joints. It is to be appreciated that although the above was described in relation to preparing coping for a pool installation, the tool of the present disclosure can be employed in any installation requiring bullnose pavers, for example, a patio, stairs, etc.
Referring to
In use, the joint between two pavers is filled as described above in relation to
It is to be appreciated that the finishing tool 150 may be angled at point 156 to reduce the overall dimensions of the tool 200 to make it more compact.
In another embodiment, the tool 200 includes a tethering member 158 for tethering the tool 200 to a point external to, for example, a pool. The tethering member 158 may be, but is not limited too, a chain, rope, cord, etc. The tethering member 158 may be coupled to the body 102, handle 104 or bracket 116. The tethering member 158 will tether the tool 200 to the user or other structure, e.g., a bucket, to prevent the tool 200 from accidentally falling into a pool during an installation.
Although the disclosure herein has been described with reference to particular illustrative embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present disclosure. Therefore numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, which is defined by the appended claims.
It should also be understood that, unless a term is expressly defined in this patent using the sentence “As used herein, the term ‘——————’ is hereby defined to mean . . . ” or a similar sentence, there is no intent to limit the meaning of that term, either expressly or by implication, beyond its plain or ordinary meaning, and such term should not be interpreted to be limited in scope based on any statement made in any section of this patent (other than the language of the claims). To the extent that any term recited in the claims at the end of this patent is referred to in this patent in a manner consistent with a single meaning, that is done for sake of clarity only so as to not confuse the reader, and it is not intended that such claim term be limited, by implication or otherwise, to that single meaning. Finally, unless a claim element is defined by reciting the word “means” and a function without the recital of any structure, it is not intended that the scope of any claim element be interpreted based on the application of 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20130212976 A1 | Aug 2013 | US |
