GB2157353A

GB2157353A - Improvements in or relating to plasterers tools

Info

Publication number: GB2157353A
Application number: GB08507072A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Noel Hopkins
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-03-19
Filing date: 1985-03-19
Publication date: 1985-10-23
Also published as: GB8407059D0; GB8507072D0

Abstract

A plasterer's tool comprises an elongate member (1) having a feather edge (2) for smoothing and levelling plaster along one of its longer sides. The other longer side is formed or provided with a V- shaped channel (5) for holding angle beads against the wall. Spirit levels (9, 10) may be provided to assist in locating the tool in a vertical and/or horizontal orientation. The tool which may be of aluminium, light alloy or of a plastics material, may be of two-part construction. The parts may be detachably formed together in an end-to-end configuration to form the elongate member. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to tools This invention relates to tools for use in the building trade and has particular but not ex clusive reference to plasterer's tools.

After plaster has been applied to surface in the conventional manner, the surface of the plaster is smoothed and levelled using a "feather-edge" which is an elongate member with a straight edge that is moved over the surface of the plaster to smooth and level that surface.

Whilst the "feather-edge" is generally satisfactory for the purpose just described, it can not easily be used to assist the plasterer to position angle beads or stop beads. The angle of stop bead has to be held in the correct orientation by the plasterer whilst he also attempts to apply plaster round the bead to secure it in place.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a tool that can be used without difficulty to fulfil the two functions just described.

According to the present invention, a tool comprises an elongate member, one of the longer sides of which is formed to provide a "feather-edge", while the other longer side is formed or provided with a longitudinal channel adapted to receive an angle or stop bead.

Preferably, levels are fitted to the tool for indicating the orientation of the latter in the vertical and/or horizontal planes.

In one embodiment of the invention, the channel is of V-shaped form in a plane transverse to its length, the included angle being 90 or thereabouts. The V-shaped channel may be formed between two similar ridges each of inverted V-shape form.

The tool may be of aluminium or light alloy and may be produced by extrusion.

Alternatively, a plastics material able to resist the abrasive effect of materials on which the tool is used may be employed.

Yet again, the tool may be partly of plastics material and partly of aluminium or light alloy.

It is possible to face the wearing sufaces of a plastics tool with a protective wear resisting face, for example of metal which may be aluminium or light alloy.

By way of example only, an embodiment of the invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a perspective view of the embodiment.

The tool shown in the drawing is intended primarily for use by plasterers but it can also be used by other operatives in the building industry, for example bricklayers and masons.

In the forms shown in the drawing, the tool comprises a length 1 of extruded aluminium or light alloy contoured to provide a feather edge 2 along one of the longer sides of the length 1.

The upper (as seen in the drawing) part of the length 1 is of increased thickness as indicated at 3, the junction with the lower edge of the upper part being bevelled as shown at 4 or smoothly curved.

The other longer side is contoured to provide a V-shaped longitudinal channel 5 with an inclined angle of about 90o, preferably by providing adjacent formations 6, 7 of inverted V-shape of similar dimensions and configuration.

Secured in any suitable manner to the face 8 of the upper part are spirit levels 9, 10 each adjacent one end of the length 1. The levels 9, 10 are positioned to provide indication of the orientation of the tool in the vertical plane. A third spirit level 11 located about midway between the ends of the length 1 is positioned to provide indication of the orientation of the tool in the horizontal plane.

Typically, the thickness of the upper part 3 is about 25 mm whilst the depth of the channel 1 5 is about 4 mm. The length of the sloping sides of the formations 6, 7 is almost 10 mm.

Typically, the tool is produced in lengths of about 2, 3 and 4 metres although any other length could also be produced.

The spirit levels may be attached by screws or other convenient fixing means.

The edge 2 is used in the conventional manner as a feather edge for smoothing and levelling a plaster surface.

When an angle bead or stop bead is to be located in position prior to fixing, the channel 5 is used. The bead is first placed manually in its approximate position and then the channel 5 is located over the bead and used to correct the position of the bead using the spirit levels.

The user can then maintain the bead in the correct position using the tool which can be held quite easily with one hand thus leaving the other hand free to apply plaster to fix the bead in position.

Although the embodiment just described is basically of one-piece construction, a two-part construction could be adopted if required.

One part may comprise the upper part referred to above, the other part being the lower part. The two parts may be secured together in any suitable way and could be separable so that either of the two parts could be replaced easily if it became damaged.

Furthermore, if desired, the tool may be made in short lengths joined end-to-end telescopically or in some other suitable means.

Preferably, the end-to-end connections are such that the lengths can readily be separated for storage or transportation.

1. A tool comprising an elongate member one of whose longer sides is formed to provide a feather-edge, and in which the other

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to tools This invention relates to tools for use in the building trade and has particular but not ex clusive reference to plasterer's tools. After plaster has been applied to surface in the conventional manner, the surface of the plaster is smoothed and levelled using a "feather-edge" which is an elongate member with a straight edge that is moved over the surface of the plaster to smooth and level that surface. Whilst the "feather-edge" is generally satisfactory for the purpose just described, it can not easily be used to assist the plasterer to position angle beads or stop beads. The angle of stop bead has to be held in the correct orientation by the plasterer whilst he also attempts to apply plaster round the bead to secure it in place. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a tool that can be used without difficulty to fulfil the two functions just described. According to the present invention, a tool comprises an elongate member, one of the longer sides of which is formed to provide a "feather-edge", while the other longer side is formed or provided with a longitudinal channel adapted to receive an angle or stop bead. Preferably, levels are fitted to the tool for indicating the orientation of the latter in the vertical and/or horizontal planes. In one embodiment of the invention, the channel is of V-shaped form in a plane transverse to its length, the included angle being 90 or thereabouts. The V-shaped channel may be formed between two similar ridges each of inverted V-shape form. The tool may be of aluminium or light alloy and may be produced by extrusion. Alternatively, a plastics material able to resist the abrasive effect of materials on which the tool is used may be employed. Yet again, the tool may be partly of plastics material and partly of aluminium or light alloy. It is possible to face the wearing sufaces of a plastics tool with a protective wear resisting face, for example of metal which may be aluminium or light alloy. By way of example only, an embodiment of the invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a perspective view of the embodiment. The tool shown in the drawing is intended primarily for use by plasterers but it can also be used by other operatives in the building industry, for example bricklayers and masons. In the forms shown in the drawing, the tool comprises a length 1 of extruded aluminium or light alloy contoured to provide a feather edge 2 along one of the longer sides of the length 1. The upper (as seen in the drawing) part of the length 1 is of increased thickness as indicated at 3, the junction with the lower edge of the upper part being bevelled as shown at 4 or smoothly curved. The other longer side is contoured to provide a V-shaped longitudinal channel 5 with an inclined angle of about 90o, preferably by providing adjacent formations 6, 7 of inverted V-shape of similar dimensions and configuration. Secured in any suitable manner to the face 8 of the upper part are spirit levels 9, 10 each adjacent one end of the length 1. The levels 9, 10 are positioned to provide indication of the orientation of the tool in the vertical plane. A third spirit level 11 located about midway between the ends of the length 1 is positioned to provide indication of the orientation of the tool in the horizontal plane. Typically, the thickness of the upper part 3 is about 25 mm whilst the depth of the channel 1 5 is about 4 mm. The length of the sloping sides of the formations 6, 7 is almost 10 mm. Typically, the tool is produced in lengths of about 2, 3 and 4 metres although any other length could also be produced. The spirit levels may be attached by screws or other convenient fixing means. The edge 2 is used in the conventional manner as a feather edge for smoothing and levelling a plaster surface. When an angle bead or stop bead is to be located in position prior to fixing, the channel 5 is used. The bead is first placed manually in its approximate position and then the channel 5 is located over the bead and used to correct the position of the bead using the spirit levels. The user can then maintain the bead in the correct position using the tool which can be held quite easily with one hand thus leaving the other hand free to apply plaster to fix the bead in position. Although the embodiment just described is basically of one-piece construction, a two-part construction could be adopted if required. One part may comprise the upper part referred to above, the other part being the lower part. The two parts may be secured together in any suitable way and could be separable so that either of the two parts could be replaced easily if it became damaged. Furthermore, if desired, the tool may be made in short lengths joined end-to-end telescopically or in some other suitable means. Preferably, the end-to-end connections are such that the lengths can readily be separated for storage or transportation. CLAIMS

1. A tool comprising an elongate member one of whose longer sides is formed to provide a feather-edge, and in which the other longer side is formed or provided with a longitudinal channel.

2. A tool as claimed in claim 1 in which the channel is of V-shaped form in a plane transverse to its length.

3. A tool as claimed in claim 2 in which the included angle of the channel is about 90'.

4. A tool as claimed in claim 2 or 3 in which the channel is formed between two ridges.

5. A tool as claimed in claim 4 in which the ridges are of similar dimensions and configuration.

6. A tool as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which is made, at least in part, of aluminium or light alloy.

7. A tool as claimed in any one of claims 1-5 which is made, at least in part, of a plastics material.

8. A tool as claimed in any one of claims 1-5 which is made, in part, of aluminium or a light alloy, and, in part, of a plastics material.

9. A tool as claimed in any one of claims 1-5 which is made of plastics material faced, at least over wearing surfaces, with a protective wear-resisting facing.

10. A tool as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and including means for indicating the orientation of the tool.

11. A tool as claimed in claim 10 in which the means are adapted to indicate the orientation of the tool when in a horizontal and/or vertical plane.

12. Stool as claimed in claim 10 or 11 in which the means includes at least one spirit level.

1 3. A tool as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which is of at least two part form.

14. A tool as claimed in claim 1 3 in which the tool consists of at least two parts secured end-to-end to provide the elongate member.

1 5. A tool substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawing.