EP4047155A1 - Extension pole for a tool, and smoothing assembly comprising such a pole - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a pole (1) for a tool, such as a putty knife, of the type provided with a handle consisting of a profile, the implementation of which is easy, practical, fast and safe. invention, the pole comprises a handle (10), and a first fixing part (20) of the handle of the tool having a contact surface (21) of complementary shape to the profile of the handle of the tool, a part distal part (22) close to the blade of the tool in the use position, and a proximal part (23) arranged opposite the distal part. The first fixing part further comprises at least two fixing lugs (24) pivotally mounted on the proximal part (23) of the first fixing part and shaped to fall back on the distal part (22) of the first fixing part.

Description

The invention relates to an extension pole for a tool such as a putty knife, a trowel or the like, to a method for implementing said pole, and to a smoothing assembly comprising such a pole and such a tool.

More specifically, the invention relates to an extension pole for tools, such as putty knives, of the type having a handle consisting of a profile, for example obtained by extrusion, arranged parallel to the edge of the blade. One can cite, for example, the document FR2913705 or the document FR1911416 that describe such a putty knife.

This type of handle has the advantage of allowing the manufacture of the handle with a profile which can be cut to the desired length. It is thus possible to manufacture very wide coating knives, which allows faster and more homogeneous work, because the application force is transmitted over the entire width of the blade.

The handle A of the document coating knife FR2913705 , illustrated in figure 1 , has a lever zone A1 which is placed in the hollow of the thumb, during use, and a grip zone comprising a convex curved front grip face A2, against which the user's fingers can bend.

Thus, when the user applies the putty knife against the wall, he applies a significant smoothing force with one or two hands, thanks to the lever zone A1. In other words, this lever zone is strongly held by the user, because it undergoes the greatest stress during smoothing.

The document FR2913705 evokes an extension pole comprising a handle and a fixing end of complementary shape to the handle A of the knife to be coated, without detailing the structure of this end.

An extension pole B for the document coating knife FR2913705 is already marketed and illustrated in figures 1 and 2 . This extension was designed to mimic the motion of the user's hand by pinching the back of the handle for leverage, like the user's thumb, and squeezing the front grip area tightly, like the fingers of the user. the user.

The fixing end B1 has a shape complementary to the profile of the handle A of the knife to be coated. The attachment end B1 also comprises a rotationally adjustable attachment means B2, such as a ball joint, for attachment to the handle B3 of the pole.

The fixing part B1 also comprises two fixing lugs B4 articulated on a rib (as illustrated in figures 1 and 2 ) B5 reinforcement arranged on the distal part located in front of the attachment part B1, that is to say towards the edge B6 of the gripping portion B1 farthest from the handle B3. The reinforcing rib B5 is arranged substantially above the grip zone A2 of the handle A of the knife to be coated, when it is fixed to the fixing part B1, and therefore at a distance from the lever zone A1 of said handle.

The B4 brackets include a B4a rib (see picture 2 ) of forceful contact with the handle A of the knife to be coated. When the putty knife is present, the force-contact ribs are force-pressed against the handle and firmly hold the latter in the fastening part. On the contrary, when the knife to be coated is absent, the rib of each lug B4 protrudes from the inner surface B7 of the fixing part intended to be in contact with the handle of the knife to be coated, which is illustrated in picture 2 .

Consequently, in order to be able to slide the handle of the knife to be coated in the fixing part of the pole of the prior art, it is necessary to first pivot the fixing lugs B4 towards the front of the fixing part in the direction of the arrow B8 to retract the ribs so that they do not protrude from the inner surface B7 and do not prevent the handle A from sliding into the fixing part B. To prevent these lugs from falling or to avoid having to hold them with one hand, it is necessary to lay the pole "upside down", that is to say the handle upwards and the fixing part resting on the ground. It is then possible to slide the handle of the knife to be coated and then fold down the fixing lugs one by one in the direction opposite to the arrow F1 so that their ribs are applied in force against the front of the handle of the knife.

This pole is impractical because of its position of use. In addition, the latter makes it necessary to handle the knife to be coated in the immediate vicinity of the ground, which risks damaging or dirtying it. Moreover, the implementation of the pole is slow, because it requires a lot of manipulations. Finally, when the pole is used with a coating knife of great length, the smoothness of the coating obtained is of lower quality than when the same knife is operated by hand.

One objective of the present invention is therefore to provide a pole that is easy to implement, practical, quick and safe.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a pole which provides smoothing identical to the smoothing obtained manually with the coating knife alone, in particular with coating knives of great length, that is to say greater than at least 50 cm long, especially knives 80-100 cm long.

The idea underlying the invention was to move the location of the fixing lugs by articulating them at the rear of the fixing part, close to the fixing means adjustable in rotation (such as a ball joint) from handle, above the lever zone of the handle of the knife to be coated when the latter is slid into the fixing part of the pole, and so as to cover the front of the fixing part when they are in fixing position. Another idea has been to increase, in a preferred embodiment, the contact surface with the fixing part by bringing the two tabs together by a grip tab shaped to lock on the front part of the fixing part located at the above the grip zone of the handle of the knife to be coated when the latter is inserted therein, which concomitantly makes implementation much simpler.

The subject of the invention is more precisely a pole for a putty knife provided with a handle constituted by a profile, for example obtained by extrusion, the pole comprising a handle, and a member for fixing the handle to a first fixing part of the handle of the knife to be coated, the first fixing part having a contact surface of a shape complementary to the profile of the handle of the knife to be coated, a distal part close to the blade of the knife to be coated when the latter is fixed in the first fixing part in the position of use, and a proximal part arranged opposite the distal part, close to the handle, the first fixing part further comprising at least two fixing lugs mounted in a pivoting manner, the fixing lugs being articulated on the proximal part of the first fixing part and shaped to fall back on the distal part of the first fixing part.

The articulation of the fixing lugs on the distal part of the fixing part allows the handle of the knife to be coated to be tightened by the ribs of the fixing lugs at the level of the lever zone of the handle, while stiffening the grip at the level of the gripping zone of the handle thanks to the gripping part of the fixing lugs which comes to fold back against the distal edge of the fixing part. This arrangement ensures easier use while allowing better maintenance of the handle than with a state-of-the-art extension, as well as a smoothing quality identical to what is obtained manually with the putty knife alone.

• les au moins deux pattes de fixation peuvent présenter une portion d'articulation sur la première partie de fixation, et une portion de préhension, les au moins deux pattes de fixation étant reliées l'une à l'autre au moins par leur portion de préhension ;
• les au moins deux pattes de fixation peuvent être reliées l'une à l'autre par leur portion de préhension de manière à ménager un espace entre leurs portions d'articulation suffisant pour laisser passer l'organe de fixation du manche;
• les au moins deux pattes de fixation peuvent être conformées pour se bloquer sur la partie distale de la première partie de fixation ; et/ou
• la perche peut comprendre, en outre, une bague montée coulissante le long du manche et munie d'un moyen de blocage réversible, la bague étant reliée de manière pivotante à une première extrémité d'au moins un bras relié, par une deuxième extrémité, à une deuxième partie de fixation de la poignée du couteau à enduire.

According to particular embodiments:

• the at least two fixing lugs can have an articulation portion on the first fixing part, and a gripping portion, the at least two fixing lugs being connected to each other at least by their gripping portion ;
• the at least two fixing lugs can be connected to each other by their gripping portion so as to provide a space between their articulation portions sufficient to allow the handle fixing member to pass;
• the at least two fixing lugs can be shaped to lock onto the distal part of the first fixing part; and or
• the pole may further comprise a ring mounted to slide along the handle and provided with a reversible locking means, the ring being connected in a pivoting manner to a first end of at least one arm connected, by a second end, to a second fixing part of the handle of the knife to be coated.

The invention also relates to a smoothing assembly comprising a previous pole and at least one coating knife comprising a profiled handle of complementary shape to the first attachment part of the pole.

• [Fig. 1], une vue schématique en perspective d'une poignée de couteau à enduire de l'art antérieur en cours de montage sur une perche de rallonge de l'art antérieur;
• [Fig. 2], une vue schématique de profile de la perche de l'art antérieur de la figure 1, illustrant la position de la languette de fixation lorsque la perche est en position « tête en haut », c'est-à-dire manche posé sur le sol et partie de fixation vers le haut ;
• [Fig. 3], une vue schématique en perspective d'un premier mode de réalisation d'une perche selon l'invention pour un couteau à enduire muni d'une poignée en profilé ;
• [Fig. 4], une vue schématique en perspective d'un deuxième mode de réalisation d'une perche selon l'invention, dans laquelle les deux languettes de fixation sont reliées par leur partie de préhension pour ne former qu'une seule pièce, les languettes de fixation étant en position de verrouillage ;
• [Fig. 5], une vue schématique en perspective de la perche de la figure 4, dans laquelle les languettes de fixation sont en position de déverrouillage ;
• [Fig. 6], une vue schématique en perspective de la perche de la figure 4, en position de déverrouillage et en attente du positionnement d'un couteau à enduire à manche profilé ;
• [Fig. 7], une vue schématique en perspective de la perche de la figure 6, en position de déverrouillage et positionnée sur le couteau à enduire à manche profilé ;
• [Fig. 8], une vue schématique en perspective de la perche de la figure 7, en position de verrouillage ;
• [Fig. 9], une vue schématique en perspective de la perche de la figure 8, comprenant, en outre, un système de rigidification latéral en cours d'assemblage ; et
• [Fig. 10], une vue schématique en perspective de la perche de la figure 9, en fin d'assemblage.

Other characteristics of the invention will be set out in the detailed description below given with reference to the appended figures, given by way of example, and which represent, respectively:

• [ Fig. 1 ], a schematic perspective view of a prior art putty knife handle being mounted on a prior art extension pole;
• [ Fig. 2 ], a schematic profile view of the pole of the prior art of the figure 1 , illustrating the position of the fixing tongue when the pole is in the “head-up” position, that is to say the handle resting on the ground and the fixing part upwards;
• [ Fig. 3 ], a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment of a pole according to the invention for a coating knife provided with a profiled handle;
• [ Fig. 4 ], a schematic perspective view of a second embodiment of a pole according to the invention, in which the two fixing tabs are connected by their gripping part to form a single piece, the fixing tabs being in the locked position;
• [ Fig. 5 ], a schematic perspective view of the pole of the figure 4 , wherein the fixing tabs are in the unlocked position;
• [ Fig. 6 ], a schematic perspective view of the pole of the figure 4 , in the unlocked position and awaiting the positioning of a coating knife with a profiled handle;
• [ Fig. 7 ], a schematic perspective view of the pole of the figure 6 , in the unlocked position and positioned on the coating knife with profiled handle;
• [ Fig. 8 ], a schematic perspective view of the pole of the figure 7 , in the locked position;
• [ Fig. 9 ], a schematic perspective view of the pole of the figure 8 , further comprising a lateral stiffening system during assembly; and
• [ Fig. 10 ], a schematic perspective view of the pole of the figure 9 , at the end of assembly.

A first embodiment of the pole according to the invention is illustrated in picture 3 .

In this figure, the pole is illustrated "head up", that is to say the handle resting on the ground and the fixing part of the knife to be coated upwards.

This position is ideal for the user since he can position the putty knife on the pole while standing, the putty knife therefore being away from the ground.

The pole 1 according to the invention therefore comprises a handle 10 fixed to a first fixing part 20 of the handle of the knife to be coated by means of a fixing member 30. Preferably, this fixing member is of the type with allow an angle-adjustable fixing between the handle and the fixing part to the knife to be coated, such as for example a ball joint.

The first attachment part 20 is a profile which has a contact surface 21 of a shape complementary to the profile of the handle of the knife to be coated, so that said handle can be slid into the first attachment part 20 (see figures 6 to 8 ).

The first fixing part 20 comprises a distal part 22 arranged close to the blade of the knife to be coated in the position of use, that is to say when the knife is fixed in the first fixing part 20.

The first fixing part 20 also comprises a proximal part 23 arranged opposite the distal part 22 and close to the handle 10.

According to the invention, the first fixing part 20 further comprises at least two fixing lugs 24 pivotally mounted on the proximal part 23 of the first fixing part 20 and shaped to fall back on the distal part of the first fixing part. This arrangement allows clamping above the lever area of the putty knife handle, which amazingly improves the quality of the hold of the putty knife and, therefore, the quality of the smoothness of the putty with a pole.

More particularly, the first fixing part 20 comprises a reinforcing rib 25 arranged transversely along the proximal part 23, the at least two fixing lugs being articulated on this reinforcing rib 25.

The fixing lugs 24 have an articulation portion 26 on the first fixing part, and a gripping portion 27 enabling the user to grasp them in order to pivot them between an open position to insert a putty knife, and a position of use in which the fixing lugs press in force against the handle of the knife to be coated by means of their clamping rib 28 (see figure 5 ).

Thanks to this arrangement, when the pole is in the “head-up” position, the user can grasp the gripping parts and lower them downwards. It will be helped by gravity which drives the gripping parts downwards and thus naturally maintains the fixing lugs in the open position, that is to say in the position in which the force contact ribs 28 are retracted from the surface. contact 21 with the handle of the knife to be coated. It is therefore very easy for the user to slide the knife handle to be coated into the fixing part 20 since the force contact ribs 28 do not protrude from the contact surface and the user does not have to maintain open the fixing lugs (see figure 5 ).

Advantageously, the gripping portion 27 comprises a free end shaped to lock onto the distal part 22 of the first fixing part 20, that is to say to lock against the distal edge 29 of the first fixing part the farther from the handle. This allows for anterior and posterior fixation of the first fixing part 20 on the handle of the knife to be coated, i.e. a clamp above the front gripping area of the handle of the knife to be coated, and a clamp above the lever area of the handle of the knife to be coated., further improving the quality of the hold of the handle and therefore the quality of the smoothing.

A second very interesting embodiment of a pole according to the invention is illustrated in figure 4 .

In this embodiment, the two fixing lugs 24 are connected to each other by their gripping portion 27a which is therefore common to the two lugs 24. However, each lug 24 has its own hinge portion 26 on the first fixing part 20.

It is thus possible, in a single gesture, to tighten and loosen the two fixing lugs 24.

Advantageously, the two fixing lugs 24 are connected to each other by their gripping portion 27a so as to leave a space E between their hinge portions sufficient to allow the handle fixing member to pass. As shown by the figures 4 and 5 , this allows simultaneous closing and opening of the fixing lugs without being hampered by the presence of the fixing member of the handle and of the handle itself.

The figures 6 to 8 illustrate a method of using the pole according to the invention. These figures illustrate the second embodiment in which the fixing lugs are integral with one another via their gripping portion. However, this method is similar to the first embodiment, with the only difference that it will be necessary to deactivate and activate the fixing lugs sequentially and not simultaneously.

To fix a putty knife A on the pole according to the invention, the user places the handle of the pole on the ground so that the first fixing part 20 is directed upwards. Then he rotates the fixing lugs 24 downwards, in the direction of the arrow F1, so that the force contact ribs 28 are retracted from the contact surface with the handle of the knife to be coated.

He can then let go of the fixing lugs which remain in the open position thanks to gravity (shown by the arrow Fg).

He then grabs the handle of the knife to be coated and presents it facing the first fixing part 20 ( figure 6 ) so as to be able to slide it into the fixing part 20 in the direction of the arrow F2 to arrive at the position of the figure 7 .

He then folds the fixing lugs upwards in the direction of the arrow F3, here by means of the single gripping portion 27a to forcefully tighten the contact ribs 28 (not visible) against the handle of the knife, to end at the position of the figure 8 . Advantageously, the gripping portion is shaped to lock against the distal edge of the first fixing part, so that additional tightening is obtained.

To disassemble the knife to be coated from the pole, the user again positions the pole “head upwards”, then he lowers the fixing lugs 24 downwards, in the direction of the arrow F1. In addition to gravity, the spring effect of the fixing lugs previously wedged in force against the handle of the knife via the ribs 28, will help the user to position the fixing lugs 24 in the open position.

He can then let go of the fixing brackets which remain in the open position thanks to gravity.

He then seizes the handle of the knife to be coated and slides it outside the fixing part 20 in the opposite direction of the arrow F2 to arrive at the position of the figure 6 .

At no time is the putty knife likely to get dirty or damaged against the floor.

The arrangement of the fixing lugs 24 according to the invention also allows the easy use, without risk of damaging the knife to be coated, of a reinforcement system 40 for long knives to be coated.

This third embodiment is illustrated in figures 9 and 10 .

In this third embodiment, the pole further comprises a ring 41 mounted to slide along the handle 10 and provided with a reversible locking means 42 illustrated here by example by a quick-tightening handle.

The ring 41 is pivotally connected to a first end of an arm 43 connected, at a second end, to a second fixing part 20a of the handle of the knife to be coated. In the illustrated embodiment, the ring is connected to two arms 43 each provided with a second part 20a for fixing the handle of the knife to be coated.

The second fixing part 20a is connected to the second end of the arm in a pivoting manner to allow it to be threaded onto the handle of the knife to be coated.

The implementation is very simple: to fix the reinforcement system 40, the user positions the pole "head up" and releases the ring 41, that is to say that he deactivates the fixing means 42 from so that the ring is free to slide along the handle.

The user then grasps the second fixing parts 20a in his hands to position them opposite the ends of the handle of the knife to be coated A. the ring is then close to the first fixing part 20.

Then he causes the second fixing parts 20a to slide towards the first fixing part 20. Concomitantly, the ring 41 slides down the handle 10 away from the first fixing part 20.

He then actuates the fixing lugs 24 of the second fixing parts 20a by folding them upwards in the direction of the arrow F4, as described above.

He can then activate the reversible blocking means 42 of the ring 41. Advantageously, before activating the reversible blocking means 42, he pushes the ring 41 downwards to tension the assembly as much as possible.

In an embodiment not illustrated, the arms 43 can be telescopic.

The use of this reinforcement system is made possible by the particular arrangement of the fixing lugs 24 which allows great freedom of movement, and avoids having to maintain them to maintain the open position.

The use of the reinforcement system 40 according to the invention makes it possible to obtain a smoothing identical to the smoothing obtained manually with the coating knife alone, that is to say without a pole, in particular with very long coating knives. , that is to say greater than at least 50 cm long, in particular knives 80 to 100 cm long.

The pole according to the invention can be marketed alone or with at least one putty knife, the profiled handle of which has a shape complementary to the first fastening part.

Alternatively or in combination, it can also be marketed with a reinforcement system 40 for very long coating knives.

Claims (6)

Pole (1) for a tool, such as a putty knife, of the type provided with a handle (A) constituted by a profile, the pole comprising a handle (10), and a fixing member (30) for the handle (10) to a first fixing part (20) of the handle (A) of the tool, the first fixing part (20) having a contact surface (21) of complementary shape to the profile of the handle of the tool, a distal part (22) close to the blade of the tool when the latter is fixed in the first fixing part in the position of use, and a proximal part (23) arranged opposite the distal part (22), close to the handle (10), the first fixing part (20) further comprising at least two fixing lugs (24) mounted in a pivoting manner, characterized in that the fixing lugs (24) are articulated on the proximal part (23) of the first fixing part (20) and shaped to fall back on the distal part (22) of the first fixing part ion (20). Pole according to Claim 1, in which the at least two fixing lugs (24) have an articulation portion (26) on the first fixing part (20), and a gripping portion (27a), the at least two fixing lugs (24) being connected to each other at least by their gripping portion (27a). Pole according to Claim 2, in which the at least two fixing lugs are connected to each other by their gripping portion (27a) so as to provide a space (E) between their articulation portions (26) sufficient to pass the fixing member (30) of the handle. Pole according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, in which the at least two fixing lugs (24) are shaped to lock onto the distal part (22) of the first fixing part (20). Pole according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, further comprising a ring (41) mounted to slide along the handle (10) and provided with reversible locking means (42), the ring being connected so as to pivoting at a first end of at least one arm (43) connected, by a second end, to a second fixing part (20a) of the handle of the tool. Smoothing assembly comprising a pole (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and at least one tool, such as a putty knife, of the type comprising a profiled handle (A) of a shape complementary to the first part of attachment (20) of the pole.

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