EP1109979B1 - Hand-held device for removing joint fillers - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for removing joint filler and a method of using the same. The device includes a body member and a peeling element located adjacent to the front end of the body member. The peeling element includes at least two peeling points, where the first peeling point is located proximate to the topside of the peeling element and the second peeling point is located proximate to the underside of the peeling element. The device also includes an opening located between the peeling element and body member.

Description

The invention relates to a hand-held device for removing joint filling compounds, in particular Joint sealants, joints with a grip area for a user's hand and a front peeling-off element.

Especially in the sanitary area are often joints of tiles or tiles, before especially in the transition area between floor and wall, with joint sealing compounds, For example, silicone, sealed. But with time it is required to refill such joints newly with joint sealant when the old Joint sealant has become defective. For this it is necessary the old one Joint sealant as completely as possible from the new joint to be grouted remove.

For this purpose, conventional metal tools are often used, for example Putty knife, screwdriver or the like. The removal of joint sealants with such tools, however, is very cumbersome and expensive In addition, often occurs a scratching of the substrate, such as the adjacent wall of floor tiles. In addition, there is also one Risk of injury to the operator, especially if sharp-edged Metal tools are used. Also known are solutions based on based on chemical principles and a detachment of the often made of silicone Causing joint sealant. However, these chemicals are also with Risks associated with the operator as they are dangerous, corrosive, irritating and / or contain solvent-containing substances. There is also a following Disposal problem.

It has also become known a generic hand-held plastic device, whose front end has a peeling element, that of two formed differently shaped blade-shaped elements. That's it necessary, first with the first pointed blade-shaped element in penetrate the joint sealant and along the entire joint the Roughing up the joint sealant, which expediently applies to both Side edges of the joint must be made. Subsequently, the handset is then in brought a different position and with the second blade-shaped element the so pre-dissolved joint sealant removed or peeled off the joint. Offers this known handset already advantages over the above solutions, so it is still in need of improvement. So will be familiar with this Hand device still a considerable amount of time when removing the joint sealant needed from a joint, because, as described above, the handset several times along the joint must be guided to remove the joint sealant from the joint. In addition, a completely perfect removal is only guaranteed if the Handset is respectively positioned exactly, especially at the first Cutting operation. Another disadvantage is that the known hand-held device two has curved blades that do not allow in corner areas to Completely reach removing mass. In addition, the shape is not optimal and the sealant is often scratched only.

A generic handset is also from the German utility model DE-U-94 22 011 known. This handset has a blade at its tip, the corresponding to the width of the joint to be machined to form a arched Abschälelementes can be compressed. Disadvantage of this Previous handheld device is further that so only when pushing operation a peeling effect can be achieved.

Furthermore, a generic handset from US 3,892,039 is known, the with two substantially rectangular tapered cutting gasket material should remove. The cutting tool tapers above the side edges and thereby forms a completely closed channel for discharging the cut mass and has a longer handle.

Finally, a generic handset with a cuboid handle US 3,744,079 A known. This handset is wedge-like handled and points in his front part on a tapered Abschälelement on, with which Grout be removed from a seam area and simultaneously smoothed can. However, this handset is operated only sliding.

The object of the invention is to improve a generic handset so that both a pulling and a pushing operation is possible, and It has an integrally molded handle ergonomic power transmission is possible.

This object is achieved with a handset of the type described in the present invention solved in that the Abschätelement as pointed, under Formation of another spout area backside open Abschüllülle with a directly molded grip area is trained.

To remove the joint sealant from a joint is the invention Handset simply inserted into the joint so that the two side edges of the Abut the scraper roughly at the two surfaces adjacent to the joint and then the handset is preferably sliding along the joint moved, causing the joint sealant in one operation in the area of both Joint edges is detached from the substrate. Alternatively, the handset can also pulling without a lot of effort to be moved, even in this case are the Side flanks of Abschüllülle then on both edge regions of the joint and ensure a largely complete replacement of the joint sealant in a step. Due to this possibility, the handset alternatively in the to operate as described above, is given a very flexible work, so that even hard to reach corners of jointing compound easily can be. The device is for both left-handed and right-handed well suited without modification. Since no prominent sharp-edged Cutting edges are present, there is virtually no risk of injury to the operator. The fact that the Abschältülle is designed to be open on the back, can leaked joint sealant back out of the handset exit, so that a Remove the same along an entire joint without interrupting the Peeling process is easily possible because the detached mass to the rear can escape from the handset. Of particular further advantage is that due to the formation of another spout area at the rear open end the grommet, the device can also be moved pulling, which then a Peeling done by this spout area.

In an advantageous embodiment it is provided that the two side edges of the Abschüllülle are arranged approximately at an angle of 65 ° to each other. This facilitates working in particular in corner areas, for example in joints between a Floor and a wall surface.

The handling can be significantly improved by the fact that the Abschältülle upper side at the end of the side edges in a handling area passes. The handling area serves in addition to the likewise existing Grip area to, for example, the thumb of the user's hand on this support, while with the other fingers and the palm of the handset can be completely encompassed in the grip area.

As ergonomically particularly favorable, it has been found when the handling area merges into the tapered handle area.

The functionality of the handset can be further increased by the the Abschältülle opposite end is designed as a spatula. With this Spatula, it is possible, for example, last remnants of the joint sealant of directly remove smooth surfaces without adding an extra spatula need.

In order to improve the handling even further, it is advantageously provided that the Handling area and / or the grip area with groove-shaped elevations for provided the thumb or a finger of a user's hand. The serve grooved elevations in the handling area to the thumb of User's hand position when the handset to actually remove the joint sealant is used from a joint, while the elevations in the Handle area serve to position the thumb when the handset as Spatula is used.

Preferably, the elevations are formed in trough-shaped areas.

Finally, it is provided that the handset is made of plastic, and indeed if possible from a low-wear, stable plastic. This will be the danger a scratching of the adjacent to the joint surface reliable avoided. In addition, the handset can be easily and inexpensively. Of course, the handset can also be made of metal or other Materials exist.

Fig. 1

einen Schnitt durch ein erfindungsgemäßes Handgerät gemäß Linie I-I in Fig. 2,

Fig. 2

das Handgerät in einer Ansicht von unten,

Fig. 3

das Handgerät in einer Ansicht von oben,

Fig. 4

das Handgerät in einer Seitenansicht,

Fig. 5

ein mit X in Fig. 1 gekennzeichnetes, vergrößertes Detail,

Fig. 6

ein mit Y in Fig. 1 gekennzeichnetes, vergrößertes Detail,

Fig. 7

einen Schnitt gemäß der Linie VII-VII in Fig. 1.

Fig. 8

einen Schnitt gemäß der Linie VIII-VIII in Fig. 4 und

Fig. 9

einen Schnitt gemäß der Linie IX-IX in Fig. 4.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing, for example. This shows in:

Fig. 1

a section through an inventive handset according to line II in Fig. 2,

Fig. 2

the handset in a view from below,

Fig. 3

the handset in a view from above,

Fig. 4

the handset in a side view,

Fig. 5

an enlarged detail marked X in FIG. 1,

Fig. 6

an enlarged detail marked Y in FIG. 1,

Fig. 7

a section along the line VII-VII in Fig. 1st

Fig. 8

a section along the line VIII-VIII in Fig. 4 and

Fig. 9

a section along the line IX-IX in Fig. 4th

An inventive hand-held device for removing joint filling compounds, in particular Joint sealants made of joints, is generally designated 1 in the drawing. This handset initially has a narrowed handle portion 2, the extended forward in a relation to the tapered grip area 2 Handling area 3 passes. The handling area 3 ends in front side a tapered Abschältülle 4, the two side edges with 4a and 4b are designated. These side edges 4a and 4b are approximately at an angle of 65 ° to each other arranged, as shown in Figure 7. The side flanks go there on the upper side in an angled region 4a 'and 4b' and from this in Side walls of the handling area 3 via.

As best seen in FIG. 1, the underside 4u of the peeling grommet 4 preferably not straight, but slightly curved inwardly inclined educated. The Abschältülle 4 is also formed on the back open, this area is indicated by an arrow 5. The back open arched End region forms a further spout region 4c, which is also known as Abschälelement serves

The hand-held device 1 is at the opposite end of the Abschüllülle 4 as a spatula 6 trained so that it used in addition to its peeling function as a spatula can be.

To facilitate handling, both the handling area 3 as also the grip area 2 groove-shaped elevations 7, 8 for the thumb or the Finger of a user's hand, in trough-shaped recessed areas 9, 10 are formed. Upon actuation of the handset with the Abschältülle 4 is the Thumb or a finger on the groove-shaped elevations 7 and the rest Fingers grip the grip area 2 with the palm, while the thumb or a finger when using the handset 1 with the spatula 6 on the grooved elevations 8 rests and the remaining fingers and the palm of the Encompass handling area 3.

The handset 1 is to remove a jointing compound from a joint with the front tip end of the Abschältülle 4 used in the jointing compound or, and can then be pushed forward along the joint become. Here, the handset 1 is directed with its bottom 1a to the joint. Alternatively, the handset 1 can also be pulled along the joint, In this case, the spout region 4c then becomes effective as a peeling-off element.

With the spatula 6, if necessary, residues can be easily removed, moreover the handset 1 can also be used at any time as a normal spatula.

The handset 1 is preferably made entirely of plastic, preferably from a wear-and-weary plastic.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment. Thus, in particular, the spatial arrangement of the side edges 4a and 4b of the Abschüllülle 4, depending on the conditions of use, also be chosen differently and the spatula 6, for example, of course, can be omitted.

Claims (6)

1. Hand-held appliance (1) for removing joint fillers, in particular joint sealers, from joints, with a gnp region (2) for the hand of a user and a front-end peeling element which runs to a point and is formed by side flanks (4a, 4b) as a peeling snout (4) which is open (5) at the rear side with formation of a further snout region (4c), characterised in that the peeling snout (4) merges at the top at the end of the side flanks (4a, 4b) of the peeling snout (4) into a manipulating region (3), which in turn merges into the grip region (2), which is formed to be narrowed.
2. Hand-held appliance according to claim 1, characterised in that the two side flanks (4a, 4b) of the peeling snout (4) are arranged at an angle of approximately 65° relative to one another.
3. Hand-held appliance according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the end, which is opposite the peeling snout (4), is formed as a spatula (6).
4. Hand-held appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the manipulating region (3) and/or the grip region (2) is or are provided with corrugation-shaped elevations (7, 8) for the thumb or a finger of the hand of a user
5. Hand-held appliance according to claim 4, characterised in that the elevations (7, 8) are formed in trough-shaped regions (9, 10)
6. Hand-held appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it consists of plastics material

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