AU771352B2 - Finishing tool - Google Patents

Description

Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

(ORIGINAL)

o oooo o oo Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: STEPHEN JAMES CORDELL STEPHEN JAMES CORDELL SANDERCOCK COWIE 69 Robinson Street, DANDENONG VIC 3175 FINISHING TOOL Invention Title: Details of Associated Provisional Application(s): No(s): Australian Provisional Application No. PQ1024 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: -1- 2000-06- 19.A:\282cordcll.fic.wpd, I laoooo oooo o oo TITLE: FINISHING TOOL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the finishing or shaping of a bead or run of sealant, filler, caulking compound or the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The modem building and other industries use a wide range of filler materials such as silicones, caulking compounds and gap fillers.

The filler materials are used for purposes such as waterproofing between adjacent tiles or sheets of cladding, as waterproofing between walls or bench tops and a plumbing 00619,A:\282cordell.comp.wpd, fitting, and the like.

These filler materials are generally in the form of thick liquids, or semi-liquids, which are extruded from their packaging into a run of material onto or between surfaces where they are required. They then dry or cure after extrusion from their packaging.

Unless the run of filler material is shaped or smoothed in some way after it has been extruded from its packaging, it will dry or cure in the shape that it naturally assumes as it is extruded.

It is accordingly customary for tradespeople to shape the run of filler in some way. One simple, and customary, way of doing this is simply to use the finger to wipe away excess material, leaving a smooth or slightly concave surface to the run of filler. This simple approach does not however necessarily produce a consistent appearance. It also had the disadvantage that a residue of filler material collects on the fingers. This residue can cause skin irritation in the short term and severe damage in the long term.

An alternative method of shaping a run of filler material is to use a knife blade to scrape away excess material. Again, this method does not necessarily produce a consistent appearance.

V. It is accordingly an aim of the present invention to provide a tool for shaping of a run of I: filler material, the use of which tool does not necessitate direct contact between the filler material and the fingers.

It is a subsidiary aim of the present invention to provide a such a tool, SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 30 The present invention accordingly provides a smoothing tool having a head region with a smoothing channel extending longitudinally in the head region, wherein the channel wall terminates in two mutually parallel straight edges, each of which edges lie at an acute angle to a longitudinal axis of the head region.

40106,A:\480cordell.spec.wpd,2 The present invention also provides a method of shaping a bead or run of filler material, wherein apparatus according to the present invention is moved along a bead or run of filler material which has been placed on the surface, with the channel straddling that bead or run of material.

PREFERRED FEATURES OF THE INVENTION It is preferred that the channel includes a wall which terminates in two straight edges, each of which edges are parallel to each other and each of which edges are at an acute angle to a longitudinal axis of the head region.

It is preferred that two opposite fins project laterally from the head region.

o It is preferred that the fins be generally triangular in plan.

It is also preferred that each fin be substantially planar, with transition portions of generally triangular cross-section projecting substantially downwardly from the trailing ,edge of each fin.

It is preferred that the head region includes a void.

It is preferred that the channel is generally arcuate in cross-section. According to particularly preferred alternative embodiments of the invention, the channel is semicircular, or semi-elliptical in cross section.

According to an alternative preferred embodiment of the invention, the channel is rectangular in cross section.

It is preferred that the tool includes a handle which is connected to the head region remote from the channel, and which extends from the head region generally in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the head region.

According to yet further preferred embodiments of the invention the tool does not have 00619.A:\282cordell.comp.wpd.3 a handle. Instead the tool includes a head portion which is adapted for attachment to tubes or packaging of filler material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a tool according to one embodiment of the present invention when it is in the orientation with respect to a surface in which it would be used.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the tool as illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the tool as illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a view on a longitudinal section of the tool of Figure 1.

.0 S: 15 Figure 5 is a detailed view of a portion of Figure 4.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, preferred embodiments of it will now be described with reference to the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION The embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in Figure 1 is a tool 1 which includes a head region 2 and a generally elongated handle region 3. The tool 1 is illustrated in the orientation that would be adopted when it was being used to clear or finish filler material which had been applied to the surface 4.

As shown in Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5, an extremity 6 of the head 2 of the tool includes a channel 7 which is which extends longitudinally in the tool.

The wall of the channel 7 terminates in two straight edges 8. As illustrated in Figure 1, the straight edges 8 are at an angle 10 to the longitudinal axis of the tool 1 so that, when the tool is in use, the handle region 3 will be at a convenient angle to the surface 4. It is preferred that the angle 10 be 450 00619,A:\282cordel1.conip.wpd,4 As illustrated in Figure 2, it is preferred that fins 9 project laterally from each side of the head region 2. It is preferred that the fins 9 be generally triangular in plan. It is also preferred that each fin 9 be substantially planar, with transition portions 11 of generally triangular cross-section projecting substantially downwardly from the fin at its trailing edge.

As is shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5 the head region 2 contains a void 12.

The tool 1 is adapted to be moved by hand along a bead or run of filler material which has been placed on the surface 4, with the channel 7 straddling that bead or run of material. As the tool is moved along the run of filler material, the channel 7 wipes excess filler from the bead at the leading edge of the channel. According to the preferred S' embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings, the channel 7 is generally arcuate in cross-section. According to particularly preferred alternative 15 embodiments of the invention, the channel 7 is semi-circular, semi-elliptical or rectangular in cross section.

As the tool 1 moves along the run of filler, the transitional portions 11 at the trailing edges of the fins 9 gather up the excess filler material, which can then collect on the under sides of the fins 9 and in the void 12.

It is to be understood that the embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings is designed for use on a flat surface. According to alternative embodiments of the invention which ate not illustrated, the tool is designed to fit into the internal corner of two surfaces which are at an angle. This angle may range from virtually flat through to a right angle. In these embodiments of the tool, it is preferred that the fins 9 be flexible so as to adapt to the required angle.

According to yet further preferred embodiments of the invention which are not illustrated, the tool 1 does not have a handle. Instead the tool has a portion such as the head portion 2, which is adapted for attachment to tubes or packaging of filler material.

These alternative embodiments of the invention allow the filler material to be extruded directly onto, or into, the tool and into the path of the channel 7.

00619,A:\282cordellII. comp. wpd,

Claims (11)

1. A smoothing tool having a head region with a smoothing channel extending longitudinally in the head region, wherein the channel wall terminates in two mutually parallel straight edges, each of which edges lie at an acute angle to a longitudinal axis of the head region.

2. A tool as claimed in Claim 1, wherein two opposite fins project laterally from the head region.

3. A tool as claimed in Claim 2 or 3, wherein the fins are generally triangular in plan.

4. A tool as claimed in Claim 3, wherein each fin is substantially planar, with transition portions of generally triangular cross-section projecting substantially downwardly from the trailing edge of each fin.

A tool as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the head region includes a void.

6. A tool as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the channel is generally arcuate in cross-section.

7. A tool as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the channel is semi-circular, or semi- .:00 25 elliptical in cross section.

8. A tool as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the channel is rectangular in cross section. S 30

9. A tool as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further including a handle which:- Soo is connected to the head region remote from the channel; and 40106,A:\480cordell.spec.wpd,6 -7- which extends from the head region generally in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the head region.

A tool as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 8, further including wherein the head is adapted for attachment to tubes or packaging of filler material or the like.

11. A method of shaping a bead or run of filler material, wherein apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 10 is moved along a bead or run of filler material with the channel straddling that bead or run of material. Dated this 6 th day of January, 2004. SANDERCOCK COWIE PATENT ATTORNEYS FOR STEPHEN JAMES CORDELL 40106,A:\480cordell.spec.wpd,7