EP3314072B1 - Jointing or pointing tool - Google Patents

Description

technical field

The present invention relates to the technical field of removing material from a joint or channel, in particular cleaning a joint or channel, by means of a device according to the preamble of claim 1 (cf. U.S. 4,435,923 ).

State of the art

Conventional joint or gutter scrapers are for example in the DE 20 2015 000 759 U1 , in the US 2013/0312271 A1 , in the U.S. 6,659,851 or in the U.S. 5,759,094 disclosed.

However, such equipment is relatively inflexible, for example as far as the width of the joint or channel to be processed is concerned; the handling of such equipment is also quite uncomfortable, especially for inexperienced users and/or end users.

Description of the present invention: task, solution, advantages

Taking into account the outlined state of the art, the present invention is based on the object of further developing a device according to the preamble of claim 1 in such a way that the disadvantages and shortcomings set out above are avoided.

This object is achieved by a device having the features of claim 1. Advantageous refinements and expedient developments of the present invention are characterized in the respective dependent claims.

• Abnahme von zementärem Fugen- oder Rinnenmaterial, vornehmlich in Fugen zwischen Fliesen, Platten, Naturstein oder Mosaik, oder
• zur tiefenwirksamen Abnahme von Fugen- oder Rinnenmaterial zur Neuverfugung, insbesondere ohne chemische Zusätze oder Reinigungsmittel,

zur Verfügung gestellt.According to the present invention, a tool for manual grout or gutter cleaning is thus used

• Removal of cementitious joint or gutter material, primarily in joints between tiles, slabs, natural stone or mosaic, or
• for deep-acting removal of joint or channel material for new pointing, in particular without chemical additives or cleaning agents,

made available.

In contrast to conventional joint or channel scrapers, the precise guidance in the joint or channel, the conical support of the shaved surface and the soft storage of the abrasive, especially on a hard rubber base, provide stable and tangible guidance in order to achieve a fine and even finish To ensure the removal of joint or channel material.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the abrasive (surface) surface or grinding (surface) is glued and/or thermally, in particular thermoplastically, fastened to the respective web.

As an alternative to this, the back of the abrasive surface or grinding surface can be melted into the surface during the manufacturing process of the webs using the so-called back-injection process, which saves the need for adhesive bonding. Ideally, the ultrasonic wave method or ultrasonic welding can also be used here.

The working bridge itself, with a length of in particular about 10 cm to about 14 cm, for example about 11 cm or about 13 cm, is a long-lasting precision tool that is also useful for improving poorly executed joints.

Correspondingly, the length of the abrasive surface, in particular about 10 cm to about 14 cm, for example about 11 cm or about 13 cm, enables the tool to be positioned with a precise fit in the joint or channel and promotes a stable hold in it.

The risk of slipping or breaking out of the joint or channel is also considerably reduced by the longitudinal extent of the web. Due to the length and the stable support of the web with its abrasive material, it is also prevented that too much material is removed and/or that material is removed unevenly in relation to the extent of the joint or channel.

The surface of the tool, in particular the grinding surface, cannot become clogged due to the scattering of the grain island distribution on the surface.

The base body or body of the equipment or tool can preferably be made of foamed, harder or softer plastic, in particular of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) or polyethylene (PE), optionally with (natural) cork content in the granulate and/or or optionally with color additives.

According to an advantageous development of the present invention, the base body or body can be produced by injection molding, ie it can be hollow on the inside and provided with a cover, for example at the rear in the working direction.

In addition, the base body or body can be modified in such a way that it has at least one air chamber, which enables comfortable work and allows the contact pressure to be applied at any conceivable intensity. Independent of this or in connection with this, the base body or body can have a circumferential depression, in particular a double depression with a damping function.

In an expedient development of the present invention, a sound-absorbing material, for example made of fleece, can be provided inside the base body or body in order to enable low-noise and therefore more comfortable working.

The non-slip basic body or body can be kept slim or narrow - not primarily for design reasons - in order to be able to penetrate into areas that are difficult to access. As a result of the damping described above, the subject of the application simultaneously has a modern shape and excellent grip when guiding the tool.

Furthermore, a simple accommodation of webs with different heights, with different widths, with different shapes and/or with differently abrasive coverings can be made possible. Depending on the requirements, a narrow or wide bar with a simple click system, for example in the form of a plug-in fastener, can be mounted in a groove in the handle-like main part (= base body or body).

In addition, by providing such interchangeable ridges with variable heights of, for example, two millimeters, three millimeters and four millimeters, it is possible to determine the working depth. The provision of such an exchange option for the abrasively coated web has a synergistic effect, in particular in connection with damping, for example with one or two damping or buffer elements in the handle-like main part.

The abrasively coated ridge may protrude slightly at one end or both ends from the handle-like body to allow the operator to see if, and if so where, the ridge is in the joint to be machined. Such a projection of the web on one or both sides in relation to the grip part also enables areas that are difficult to access, for example edge areas and/or corners, to be processed.

The abrasively flocked web can be used dry, damp or wet, with the latter case removing more.

Regardless of this or in connection with this, the web can advantageously be made of plastic, in particular ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), or rubber, in particular hard rubber.

• als diamantstaubbesetzte Oberfläche eines Trägermaterials, zum Beispiel auf Nickelflächen galvanisiert, oder
• aus Keramiksplitter-Oberfläche auf Gewebe-Trägermaterial

sein.Regardless of this or in connection with this, the abrasive surface can be used in an expedient manner

• as a surface of a carrier material covered with diamond dust, for example galvanized on nickel surfaces, or
• ceramic chip surface on fabric backing material

being.

The use of the hardest materials such as diamond or ceramics in different grain sizes enables continuous and fast work and ensures a long service life, so that a long-lasting precision tool is made available in the form of the present invention by using high-quality industrial diamond dust.

In particular, the abrasive surface can be formed from nickel-bonded circular fields which are electro-deposited with diamond dust present in variable grit sizes, for example categorized 50 grit or categorized 60 grit. The fields can run diagonally on the substrate, in particular on a fabric or on a plastic adhesive surface, specifically at a small distance from the next field in each case.

In an alternative embodiment, the abrasive surface can also be diamond flocked continuously and/or with different distances between the individual grinding modules.

In an alternative embodiment, instead of the abrasive surface, the web can also be provided with brush material made of harder or softer bristles, for example a length of about two millimeters to about four millimeters, in the manner of a joint or groove brush.

Depending on the depth, width and/or hardness of the joint or channel, working webs of different heights and/or different widths are available in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, with the grain size of the abrasive surface of the working web being variable.

According to an expedient development of the present invention, the web that can be formed at different heights can be coated in thin strips with a width of about two millimeters to about five millimeters, depending on the requirement of the joint width, for example with long strips, whether coated continuously or with interruptions ( with the round fields: for example about 0.5 mm distance to the next field).

The resulting narrow working surface is therefore diamond-coated or similarly abrasive and either continuously coated or provided with interrupted coated fields in order to be able to transport the removed material between the individual fields.

Alternatively or additionally, the subject of the application can also be followed by a small dust bag or dust collector or vacuum cleaner in order to collect the dirt or dust that occurs when removing joint or channel material.

Various options regarding the width of the abrasive grinding work surface ensure a precise hold in the joint pattern. Guided manually, the entire width of the joint can be processed in one go. The effect is a quick and clean removal of the desired area and joint depth.

The web on which the abrasive surface is applied is preferably made of elastic, slightly flexible material so that the contact pressure on the surface to be processed can be selected individually and depending on the requirement:
On the one hand, this prevents uncontrolled removal of joint material; on the other hand, this reduces the risk of ceramic material, glazes, glass, natural stone surfaces or generally adjacent materials being damaged by the joint or channel.

The leading end of the web and/or the trailing end of the abraded web may be beveled or angled, for example at 45 degrees, or curved, for example round, or curved:
On the one hand, this prevents the abrasive surface from being torn off quickly; consequently, the service life of the tool is increased. On the other hand, this technical measure improves the work in corners and at the end of the processed hard joint, for example in room corners or connections to silicone joints. The beveled edges can also be provided with an abrasive surface.

Such an expediently slightly conical design of the web on the base body or body also promotes precise positioning in the joint or channel. In addition, in the side view when it is placed in the joint or channel, you can be sure that the tool is lying exactly in the joint or channel and/or is exactly supported there when starting work.

Since the abrasive surface, including the slightly tapering web in the front part of the tool, is sunk into the joint or channel with gentle pressure, the risk of slipping out of the joint or channel is reduced due to the safe guidance that is brought about in this way. This contact of the base body or body on the surrounding material, for example on the surface of a tile or a natural stone, prevents the tool from wobbling laterally or sideways in the joint or channel.

The base body or body slides wobble-free through the joint or channel and thus gives an audible feeling of work safety. Among other things, this supports the significantly higher working speed compared to other joint or channel cleaning methods and the cleaner result.

• Dieses wiederum sehr einfach gehaltene Handgerät in Form eines Stifts in Größe etwa eines Bleistifts aus Kunststoff oder Metall endet in einer Kugel, die in einem Kugellager sitzt. An diesem Kugellager ist ein Steg aus Hartplastik, bestückt mit abrasiver Fläche wie beim eigentlichen Werkzeug befestigt,
• in der gleichen Machart, aber ohne weichen Untergrund. Hiermit kommt man in alle erdenklichen schwierigen Bereiche. Möglich ist hier, den Steg am Kugellager austauschbar zu gestalten und
• verschieden abrasive Streifen anzubieten. Der Stift kann als Zusatzwerkzeug bezogen oder der eigentlichen Vorrichtung gemäß der vorliegenden Erfindung beigefügt werden.

For areas such as mounted shower rods, angled corners, or diagonally laid decking, it may be impossible to get the tool into the joint or joint corner, or to reach the end of the joint. Another im The device included in the scope of delivery should be:

• This again very simple handheld device in the form of a pen about the size of a pencil made of plastic or metal ends in a ball that sits in a ball bearing. A bar made of hard plastic, equipped with an abrasive surface, is attached to this ball bearing, just like the actual tool.
• in the same style, but without a soft base. With this you can get into all imaginable difficult areas. It is possible here to make the web on the ball bearing interchangeable and
• offer different abrasive strips. The pen can be obtained as an additional tool or can be attached to the actual device according to the present invention.

• flächige Fugenentfernung oder-reinigung bis auf eine Tiefe von etwa fünf Millimeter
  --> Möglichkeit, Fliesenflächen nachzuverfugen;
• bei Wahl eines höheren Stegs kann auch Fugen- oder Rinnenmaterial bis in die jeweils erforderliche Tiefe ausgekratzt werden, um Nachfugarbeiten zu ermöglichen; hier besteht die Möglichkeit, eine Fugenfarbkarte mitzuliefern;
• Auskratzen von Trenn- und Bewegungsfugen, vertikal und horizontal;
• Nacharbeiten unsauber ausgeführter Fugen- oder Rinnenarbeiten;
• Abtragen von Überständen an Fugen- oder Rinnenmaterial;
• Nivellierung von Fugen oder Rinnen;
• Reinigen von Mosaiken oder Rillenfliesen, zum Beispiel Treppenstufe mit eingefräster Nut, oder dergleichen;
• Auskratzen von Kleberresten.

The present invention has a wide range of possible applications and uses:

• large-scale joint removal or cleaning to a depth of about five millimeters
  --> Possibility of grouting tiled surfaces;
• if a higher bridge is selected, joint or gutter material can also be scraped out to the depth required in each case in order to enable subsequent jointing work; here it is possible to supply a joint color chart;
• Scraping out separating and movement joints, vertically and horizontally;
• Reworking uncleanly executed joint or gutter work;
• Removal of excess joint or gutter material;
• leveling of joints or gutters;
• Cleaning mosaics or grooved tiles, for example steps with a milled groove or the like;
• Scratch out adhesive residue.

The subject of the application can also be operated electrically, for example by the abrasive (changing) surface being mounted on an oscillating or reciprocating device in the base body or body by means of the web.

Brief description of the drawings

As already discussed above, there are various possibilities for embodying and developing the teaching of the present invention in an advantageous manner. For this purpose, on the one hand, reference is made to the claims subordinate to claim 1; Figures 1A to 4C illustrated embodiments explained in more detail.

Fig. 1A

in schematischer Vorderansicht ein erstes Ausführungsbeispiel für eine Vorrichtung gemäß der vorliegenden Erfindung;

Fig. 1B

in schematischer Rückansicht die Vorrichtung aus Fig. 1A;

Fig. 1C

in schematischer Seitenansicht die Vorrichtung aus Fig. 1A und Fig. 1B;

Fig. 1D

in schematischer Perspektivansicht die Vorrichtung aus Fig. 1A bis Fig. 1C;

Fig. 2A

in schematischer Vorderansicht ein zweites Ausführungsbeispiel für eine Vorrichtung gemäß der vorliegenden Erfindung;

Fig. 2B

in schematischer Rückansicht die Vorrichtung aus Fig. 2A;

Fig. 2C

in schematischer Seitenansicht die Vorrichtung aus Fig. 2A und Fig. 2B;

Fig. 2D

in schematischer Perspektivansicht von unten die Vorrichtung aus Fig. 2A bis Fig. 2C;

Fig. 2E

in schematischer Perspektivansicht von oben die Vorrichtung aus Fig. 2A bis Fig. 2D;

Fig. 3A

in schematischer Perspektivansicht einen Grundkörper oder Korpus eines dritten Ausführungsbeispiels für eine Vorrichtung gemäß der vorliegenden Erfindung;

Fig. 3B

in schematischer Unteransicht den Grundkörper oder Korpus aus Fig. 3A;

Fig. 3C

in schematischer Perspektivansicht einen Steg des dritten Ausführungsbeispiels für die Vorrichtung gemäß der vorliegenden Erfindung;

Fig. 3D

in schematischer Perspektivansicht eine Detailansicht des in Arbeitsrichtung vorderen Abschnitts des Stegs aus Fig. 3C;

Fig. 3E

in schematischer Seitenansicht den Steg aus Fig. 3C und Fig. 3D;

Fig. 3F

in schematischer Perspektivansicht den Steg aus Fig. 3C bis Fig. 3E;

Fig. 4A

in schematischer Seitenansicht einen Steg eines vierten Ausführungsbeispiels für die Vorrichtung gemäß der vorliegenden Erfindung;

Fig. 4B

in schematischer Vorderansicht einen Grundkörper oder Korpus des vierten Ausführungsbeispiels für die Vorrichtung gemäß der vorliegenden Erfindung; und

Fig. 4C

in schematischer Seitenansicht das vierte Ausführungsbeispiel mit dem Steg aus Fig. 4A

und mit dem Grundkörper oder Korpus aus Fig. 4B.It shows:

Figure 1A

in a schematic front view a first embodiment of a device according to the present invention;

Figure 1B

the device in a schematic rear view Figure 1A ;

Figure 1C

the device in a schematic side view Figure 1A and Figure 1B ;

Figure 1D

the device in a schematic perspective view Figures 1A to 1C ;

Figure 2A

in a schematic front view a second embodiment of a device according to the present invention;

Figure 2B

the device in a schematic rear view Figure 2A ;

Figure 2C

the device in a schematic side view Figure 2A and Figure 2B ;

2D

the device in a schematic perspective view from below Figures 2A to 2C ;

Figure 2E

the device in a schematic perspective view from above Figures 2A to 2D ;

Figure 3A

in a schematic perspective view a base body or body of a third embodiment of a device according to the present invention;

Figure 3B

the basic body or body in a schematic bottom view Figure 3A ;

Figure 3C

in a schematic perspective view a web of the third embodiment of the device according to the present invention;

3D

in a schematic perspective view a detailed view of the front section of the web in the working direction Figure 3C ;

Figure 3E

the web in a schematic side view Figure 3C and 3D ;

Figure 3F

the bridge in a schematic perspective view Figures 3C to 3E ;

Figure 4A

in a schematic side view a web of a fourth embodiment of the device according to the present invention;

Figure 4B

in a schematic front view a base body or body of the fourth embodiment of the device according to the present invention; and

Figure 4C

in a schematic side view of the fourth embodiment with the web Figure 4A

and with the body or body Figure 4B .

Identical or similar configurations, elements or features are in Figures 1A to 4C provided with identical reference numbers

Best way to carry out the present invention

• das anhand Fig. 1A bis Fig. 1D veranschaulichte erste Ausführungsbeispiel der vorliegenden Erfindung,
• das anhand Fig. 2A bis Fig. 2E veranschaulichte zweite Ausführungsbeispiel der vorliegenden Erfindung,
• das anhand Fig. 3A bis Fig. 3F veranschaulichte dritte Ausführungsbeispiel der vorliegenden Erfindung sowie
• das anhand Fig. 4A bis Fig. 4C veranschaulichte vierte Ausführungsbeispiel der vorliegenden Erfindung.

In order to avoid superfluous repetitions, the following explanations with regard to the configurations, features and advantages of the present invention relate—unless otherwise stated—to FIG

• that based on Figures 1A to 1D illustrated first embodiment of the present invention,
• that based on Figures 2A to 2E illustrated second embodiment of the present invention,
• that based on Figures 3A to 3F illustrated third embodiment of the present invention as well as
• that based on Figures 4A to 4C illustrated fourth embodiment of the present invention.

The based Figures 1A to 4C The device 100 illustrated serves to remove or remove material from a joint or channel by means of an abrasive surface 30 which is provided on a web 20 which is associated with a base body 10 designed in the manner of a wedge or a three-dimensional trapezium.

For damping purposes, the base body 10 according to the first exemplary embodiment (cf. Figures 1A to 1D ) in its interior two air chambers 12. Alternatively, the base body 10 according to the second exemplary embodiment (cf. Figures 2A to 2E ) on its outside for damping purposes, two circumferential depressions 14.

The side of the abrasive surface 30 facing away from the joint or channel can be fused into the surface of the web 20, for example by means of ultrasonic welding. Alternatively, the side of the abrasive surface 30 facing away from the joint or channel can be glued and/or thermally, in particular thermoplastically, fastened to the web 20 .

The abrasive surface 30 of the web 20 is designed as a carrier material, in particular a fabric carrier tape, covered at least in sections or at least partially with abrasive material, in particular with diamond dust and/or with ceramic splinters, with the abrasive material being in islands or fields on the abrasive surface 30 can be arranged so that the removed or removed material can be transported away between the individual islands or fields.

The third embodiment according to Figures 3A to 3F has an exchangeable web 20 . For this purpose, the essentially T-shaped web 20 is pushed into a groove-shaped recess 16 of the base body 10 designed like a receiving shaft, namely with its area facing away from the abrasive surface 30 detachably fixed in the recess 16 of the base body 10 in a form-fitting manner.

As in particular the detailed representation in 3D removed, the side of the web 20 that faces away from the abrasive surface 30 and is designed as an elastically mounted tongue within an isolated area has a latching lug 22 at its front end in the working direction, which, when the web 20 is pushed into the recess 16, moves into a Recess 16 provided transverse groove-shaped recess 18 (on the left in Figure 3B ) snaps into place.

The web 20 can be released again by pressing on a corrugated area 24 adjacent to the locking lug 22 at the front end of the web 20 in the working direction, namely pulled out of the recess 16, for example in order to insert a different or fresh or new web 20 into the receiving shaft 16 and to lock.

The detent 22 can also be used to prevent the web 20 from being pushed into the recess 16 upside down. At least one marking indicating the correct direction of insertion, for example at least one arrow, can also be provided on web 20 to avoid such incorrect operation.

In order to be able to grasp the corrugated area 24 better, when the bar 20 is in the inserted state in the recess 16, this corrugated area 24 projects beyond the base body 10 at the front end of the bar 20 in the working direction.

As a result, the third embodiment according to Figures 3A to 3F i.e. the possibility of exchanging or exchanging the web 20 assigned to the base body 10, which is possible due to the form-fitting accommodation of the web 20 (cf. Figures 3C to 3F ) in the essentially T-shaped recess (= receiving shaft 16) of the base body 10 (cf. Figure 3A and Figure 3B ) is enabled.

In the fourth embodiment according to Figures 4A to 4C shows the possibility of replacing the abrasive surface 30 on the web 20 by means of a clip-type click system 28.

List of References

100

contraption

10

base or body

12

air chamber

14

deepening

16

Recess, in particular groove or receiving shaft

18

Recess, in particular transverse groove

20

web

22

detent

24

Area at the end of the jetty 20

26

Projection of the area of the web 20 facing the abrasive surface 30 at one of its two ends or at both ends in relation to the base body or body 10

28

Click system, in particular clamp-type click system

30

abrasive surface

Claims (12)

1. A device (100) for manually cleaning a joint or channel by means of abrading or removing material from the joint or channel by means of at least one abrasive surface (30) provided on a rib (20) assigned to a base body (10),

   - wherein the rib (20) is substantially T-shaped,

   - wherein the rib (20) is insertable into a recess (16) of the base body (10) and is fixable in the recess (16), and

   - wherein the rib (20) is form-fittingly receivable in the recess (16) with its region facing away from the abrasive surface (30),
   characterized in

   - that the rib (20) is detachably fixable in the recess (16),

   - that the side of the rib (20) facing away from the abrasive surface (30) comprises at least one latching lug (22) at its one end, in particular at the front end in the working direction, said latching lug (22),

   -- when the rib (20) is inserted into the recess (16), being latchable into a groove (18), in particular transverse groove, provided in the recess (16), and

   -- being releasable from the groove (18) again by pressing on a, in particular ribbed, region (24) at the end of the rib (20), so that the rib (20) can be pulled out of the recess (16) again.
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the base body (10) is shaped in the manner of a wedge or of a three-dimensional trapezium.
3. The device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the base body (10), in particular for damping purposes, comprises

   - at least one air chamber (12) in its interior and/or

   - at least one, in particular circumferential, deepening (14) on its outer side.
4. The device according to at least one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the side of the abrasive surface (30) facing away from the joint or channel is fused into the rib (20), in particular into the surface of the rib (20), in particular by means of ultrasonic welding.
5. The device according to at least one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the side of the abrasive surface (30) facing away from the joint or channel is bonded and/or thermally, in particular thermoplastically, fixed to the rib (20).
6. The device according to at least one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the abrasive surface (30) is formed as a carrier material, in particular fabric carrier strip, which is at least in sections or at least partially provided with abrasive material, in particular with diamond dust and/or with ceramic chips.
7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the abrasive material is arranged in islands or fields on the abrasive surface (30) and the abraded or removed material is transportable between the individual islands or fields.
8. The device according to at least one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the recess (16) is a slot or a receiving shaft.
9. The device according to at least one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the section of the rib (20) comprising the latching lug (22) is elastically mounted with respect to the rest of the rib (20).
10. The device according to at least one of claims 1 to 9, wherein, when the rib (20) is inserted into the recess (16), the, in particular ribbed, region (24) projects beyond the base body (10) at the end of the rib (20), in particular at the front end of the rib (20) in the working direction.
11. The device according to at least one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the region of the rib (20) facing the abrasive surface (30) comprises, at one of its two ends or at both ends, a projection (26) with respect to the base body (10).
12. The device according to at least one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the region of the rib (20) facing the abrasive surface (30) is, at one of its two ends or at both ends, bevelled or angled, in particular by about 45 degrees, or curved, in particular roundly curved, or bent.

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