AU742414B2

AU742414B2 - Long handled, hand operated screeding tool

Info

Publication number: AU742414B2
Application number: AU28728/97A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Andrew Brian Thorogood
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-07-19
Filing date: 1997-07-18
Publication date: 2002-01-03
Anticipated expiration: 2017-07-18
Also published as: AU2872897A

Description

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AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 Original >4 xj~rjwComplete Specification S tandard Patent InvetionTitl Th olwn statemeritis a full description of thihnvetion, including the best mehdo promn known to me:-&it4t$x2%~44A~t44$$tt4VK~*C -444 Easi-screed This invention relates to improvements in hand tools for levelling different materials such as sand, soil, gravel and concrete.

Other tools used for levelling materials such as sand, soil, gravel and concrete have required some degree of bending or kneeling by the operator.

Furthermore, other tools are effective for either levelling material or moving quantities of material, however are not designed to do both effectively.

The present invention provides the operator with a long handled hand-tool that levels such materials without having to bend or kneel close to the ground, and thus greatly reduces the stress placed on the operators' back and/or knee joints. The Easi-screed levelling tool comprises a piece of lightweight, heavyduty, rigid material shaped with one approximate 90 degree bend, thus making the screeding edge approximately 45 degrees to the horizontal surface area being levelled. The angle of the screeding edge to the horizontal is crucial.

Angles that are greater or less than approximately 45 degrees to the horizontal surface, will render the tool less effective, causing the screed to either dig too far into the material being leVelied (dragging too much material) or, to skip along the surface (dragging too'iittle 'mateiial). The length of the screeding edge is also vital to the function of the tool, providing the ability to move and/or level significant amounts of material without becoming so heavy as to be unusable.

The Easi-screed has a detachable handle to facilitate ease of storage and transportation. The Easi-screed is fitted with a strengthening bar, attached to S. the head of the tool and to the handle holder, to help take the stress of the constant backwards and forwards motions. By using the Easi-screed operators have full use of a lightweight hand-tool that allows them to level a variety of materials quickly and accurately from a standing position, thus saving time and reducing the risk of injury to the back and other parts of the body.

The preferred metal for the Easi-screed and the handle is aluminum and the preferred shape of the handle and handle holder is cylindrical. The handle is fitted with a pop-up to secure/push to release button that fits into a hole located in the handle holder.

In other forms the screed could be made of any suitable lightweight, heavy-duty, rigid material. The handle and handle holder could be a variety of shapes, and the handle could be secured by a bolt or pin.

To assist with understanding the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawing, which shows one example of the invention.

In the drawing: Figurel shows one example of the Easi-screed according to this invention.

Referring to Figurel, it can be seen that the Easi-screed is an elongated piece of rigid material bent or molded to form one approximate 90 degree angle, with one side being approximately one third the size of the other with the longest edge being the screeding/leveling edge The strengthening bar is attached to the large and small surfaces of the rigid material, at the approximate degree bend and to the cylindrical handle holder The handle has a spring-loaded button, pop-up to secure/push to release and the cylindrical handle holder has a hole to accommodate the handle's securing mechanism 0 0 0

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Claims

1. The Easi-screed levelling tool comprises a piece of lightweight, heavy- duty, rigid material shaped with one approximate 90 degree bend one side of this rigid material is approximately one third the size of the other side. The edge on the largest area of material is the screeding/leveling edge. The handle attaches to the smaller section of the rigid material, and is attached to the device so the screeding plane is at an approximate degree angle to the handle. With the smaller of the two edges on top and the handle at approximately 45 degrees to the horizontal, the screeding edge will now operate at approximately 45 degrees to the horizontal surface area being levelled. The angle of the screeding edge to the horizontal is crucial. The tool will be less effective if the angle is much greater or much less than approximately 45 degrees to the horizontal surface. Angles greater than say 50 degrees, would cause the screed to dig in too far, consequently, dragging too much of the material being levelled. Should the angle be less than around 40 degrees, the tool would skip along the surface, dragging too little material.

2. The Easi-screed leveling tool of claim 1 wherein the hand tool has a cylindrical handle holder..

3. The Easi-screed leveling tool of claim 1 wherein the hand tool has a strengthening bar attached to the large and small surfaces of the rigid material, at an a approximate 90-degree angle, and to the cylindrical handle holder.

4. The Easi-screed leveling tool of claim 1 wherein the hand tool has a long detachable handle.

The Easi-screed leveling tool of claim 1 and 4 wherein the handle has a pop-up to secure/push to release spring loaded button.

6. The Easi-screed leveling tool of claim 1 and 4 wherein the handle is secured by a bolt/pin.

7. The Easi-screed leveling tool of claim 1 and 2 wherein the handle holder has a hole to accommodate the handle's securing mechanism.

8. An Easi-screed leveling tool substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing. ANDREW THOROGOOD NOVEMBER 2001