GB2468165A

GB2468165A - Plastering trowel with a handle which flexes independently of the plastering plate

Info

Publication number: GB2468165A
Application number: GB0903488A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Carl Delehedy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-02-27
Filing date: 2009-02-27
Publication date: 2010-09-01
Anticipated expiration: 2029-02-27
Also published as: GB0903488D0; GB2468165B

Abstract

The trowel 2 comprises a plastering plate 4 and a handle extending parallel to the plate. Between the handle and the plate is a suspension part 8 which enables the plate to move relative to the handle during plastering. The suspension part may be a layer of plastics foam material such as polyethylene or a layer of rubber. The plate may be plastic such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The handle may be removable from the trowel and is secured to the trowel by a slide securing part. Alternatively, the handle may be fixed to the body of the trowel. The trowel may form part of a kit in which there are a number of trowels and when stored the plates are separate from the handles.

Description

A PLASTERING TROWEL

This invention relates to a plastering trowel.

Plastering trowels are well known for use in applying and spreading materials such for example as plaster and mortar onto a surface such for example as a waU or a ceiling. The known plastering trowels are often difficult to use where surface contours have to be followed, where large arrears with long trowels need plastering, where newly plastered surfaces have to be blended into existing surfaces, and where a second coat needs to be applied as soon as possible over a first coat. In addition, during plastering, an unacceptable amount of stress is often transmitted through the known plastering trowels to a plaster's wrist.

It is an aim of the present invention to obviate or reduce the above mentioned problems.

Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention there is provided a plastering trowel comprising a plastering plate, a handle extending parallel to the plastering plate, and suspension means which is positioned between the plastering plate and the handle and which enables the plastering plate to move with respect to the handle during plastering, the movement being such that the plastering plate is able to flex independently of the handle whereby the plastering plate is able to follow contoured surfaces and without straining the wrist of the plasterer using the plastering trowel.

The use of the suspension means enables the plastering trowel of the present invention to follow surface contours more closely than known plastering trowels. This makes it easier for a plasterer to cope with curved surfaces, which may be either concave or convex. Also, the plastering can be conducted with less strain and greater comfort to the wrist of the plasterer.

With the plastering trowel of the present invention, the plaster may be easier to apply, and easier and faster to finish.

Additionally, the plastering trowel of the present invention is advantageous during finishing and flattening operations. The time taken for such operations can be greatly reduced compared with the time required by using known plastering tools. This is because a plastering trowel of the present invention can be used which is longer than a known standard plastering trowel, thereby enabling the plastering trowel of the, present invention to cover a larger area in a shorter time. Long trowels, for example up to and above 900mm in length, are easy to control due to the use of the suspension means. Good finishing and flattening results are able to be achieved, exceeding those attainable with a known standard steel plastering trowel. Also, the results are able to be achieved faster and with less effort.

In renovation or modification situations, plasterers are often called upon to blend a newly plastered surface with an existing surface in order to produce a smooth and blemish-free transition. The plastering trowel of the present invention is able to achieve this easier than a comparable known standard trowel, this being because the suspension means enables the plastering plate to adapt to different surface conditions and levels.

Because of the nature of plaster materials, the applied plaster materials often need to be in a suitable condition before any attempt can be made to apply a second coat over a first coat. On many jobs, this necessity to wait for the initial coat to obtain a satisfactory condition unacceptably increases the time to complete a job. With the plastering trowel of the present invention, a second coat can be applied much sooner than would be the case using a standard normal trowel. This is because the suspension means in the plastering trowel of the present invention enables the plastering trowel to cope more effectively with varying base coat conditions than would be the case using a standard known trowel.

When plaster is being applied, especially when flattening, a considerable amount of stress is placed on the wrist of the plasterer. With the plastering trowel of the present invention, the suspension means enables the plastering plate automatically to adapt to varying surface conditions, and this causes much less strain to be transmitted through to the plaster's wrist than is the case with a known standard plastering trowel, Thus the use of the plastering tool of the present invention improves the efficiency of plastering in general and especially flattening, and also helps to reduce long term joint damage to the wrists of plasterers.

The plastering tool is preferably one in which the suspension means is a layer of a plastics foam material. The plastics foam material may be 8 - 12mm thick. Preferably, the plastics foam material is 10mm thick. Other suspension means may be employed so that, for example, the suspension means may be a layer of a rubber material.

The plastics foam material is preferably polyethylene foam. Other plastics materials may be employed, including closed cell synthetic rubber materials.

The plastering plate is preferably a plastics plate. Other materials may be employed if desired so that, for example, the plastering plate may be a steel plastering plate.

Where the plastering plate is a plastics plastering plate, then the plastics plate is preferably made of polyvinyl chloride. The polyvinyl chloride is preferably calendered polyvinyl chloride. Other plastics materials may be employed so that, for example, the plastics plate may be made of polyethylene or polypropylene.

Preferably, the plastering plate is I -5mm thick.

The plastering trowel may be one in which the handle is a removable handle, and in which the plastering trowel includes securing means *for securing the removable handle in position on the plastering trowel.

The securing means is preferably a slide securing means. Other types of securing means may however be employed.

Advantageously, the plastering trowel is one in which the slide securing means comprises a securing plate which is fixed to the handle, and a receiving formation which is for receiving the securing plate and which is fixed to a side of the suspension means remote from the plastering plate.

The receiving formation may comprise a pair of side channels which receive opposite edges of the securing plate.

The receiving formation may additionally comprise a lead-in portion for guiding a leading edge of the securing plate into the side channels.

The receiving formation may additionally comprise an end channel for receiving the leading edge of the securing plate.

The plastering trowel may alternatively be one in which the handle is a fixed handle.

The handle is preferably made of a plastics material. Other materials such for example as wood may however be employed if desired.

The present invention also provides a plastering kit comprising a plurality of the plastering trowels and a container for the plastering trowels, the plastering trowels being such that when they are in the container then the handles are separate from the plastering plates, and the plastering plates being such that they are of a different size to each other. Preferably, the container comprises a body portion and a lid, and the body portion comprises a plurality of recesses each for receiving a part of the plastering trowel.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view from above on one side of a first plastering trowel; Figure 2 is an exploded view of the plastering trowel as shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is an exploded view of a second plastering trowel; and Figure 4 is a perspective view of parts of a plastering kit.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a first plastering trowel 2 comprising a plastering plate 4 and a handle 6. The handle 6 extends parallel to the plastering plate 4. The plastering trowel 2 also comprises suspension means 8 which is positioned between the plastering plate 4 and the handle 6.

The suspension means 8 enables the plastering plate 4 to move with respect to the handle 6 during plastering. The movement may be in the nature of a flexing movement of the plastering plate.

The suspension means 8 is a layer of a plastics foam material. The plastics foam material is polyethylene foam.

The plastering plate 4 is a plastics plate which is made of calendered polyvinyl chloride.

The plastering plate 4 is 2mm thick.

The handle 6 is a removable handle 6. The plastering trowel 2 includes securing means 10 for securing the removable handle 6 in position on the plastering trowel 2.

The securing means 10 is a slide securing means 10. The slide securing means 10 comprises a securing plate 12 which is fixed to the handle 6 by means of a longitudinally extending bar 14 and an upwardly extending post member 16.

The slide securing means 10 also comprises a receiving formation 18 which is for receiving the securing plate 12. The receiving formation 18 is fixed to a side 20 of the suspension means 8 remote from the plastering plate 4. The side 20 as shown in Figure 1 is the upper side of a plate 22. The plate 22 has the suspension means 8 adhered to its side remote from the side 20.

The receiving formation 18 comprises a pair of side channels 24, 26 which receive opposite edges 28, 30 of the securing plate 12. The receiving portion 18 also comprises a lead in portion 32 for guiding a leading edge 34 of the securing plate 12 into the side channels 24, 26. The receiving formation 18 further comprises an end channel 36 for receiving the leading edge 34 of the securing plate 12.

The plastering trowel 2 is able to be used to achieve the above mentioned advantages. In addition, the plastering trowel tool is able to be produced in a cost-effective manner. The plastering trowel 2 is further light to use.

If desired, the securing means 10 can be used to secure to different sized plastering plates 4 via the same or different sized suspension means 8.

Thus one handle 6 can be employed with different sized plastering plates 4.

This then enables plasters to avoid having to carry a lot of different sized plastering tools in their tool bags. This facility of the present invention as described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 is a facility which is available for all plastering tools of the present invention.

Referring to Figure 3, there is shown a second plastering trowel 37 comprising a handle 38 and a component 39 which forms a non-handle part of the plastering trowel 37. The component 39 comprises a receiving formation 40 which is formed as a one piece injection moulded receiving formation 40. The receiving formation 40 is bonded to a plate 41 on top of suspension means 42 in the form of a layer of polyethylene foam plastics material. The suspension means 42 is bonded to an upper surface 43 of a plastering plate 45. The receiving formation 40 receives a handle 36 and its securing plate 47. The receiving formation 40 is of a fixed size to receive the securing plate 47. However, the plate 41 may vary in size in dependence upon the size of the plastering plate 45.

Referring now to Figure 4, there is shown a container 44 for a plurality of plastering trowels of the present invention, for example a plurality of the plastering tools 2 shown in Figures 1 and 2. The container 44 comprises a body portion 46 and a lid 48. When the container 44 is closed, then the container 44 is able to be carried by a handle 50 on the body portion 46. The body portion 56 comprises a plurality of recesses 52 for receiving different sized plastering plates. The body portion 46 also comprises a plurality of recesses 54 for receiving a plurality of handles. The body portion 46 further comprises a recess 56 for receiving an angled plastering trowel (not shown).

The angled plastering trowel has two faces set apart. by slightly more than 900 to enable a neat finish to be obtained in internal corners. The angled plastering trowel may be fabricated from a plastics material. The angled plastering trowel is included in the container 44 for the sake of completeness.

It does not need a suspension means but it may have one if desired.

The container 44 is such that a plastering plate of a required size can be taken from an appropriate one of the recesses 52 and then connected to a handle taken from one of the recesses 54. The container 44 is able to be closed with the lid 48 connecting to clips 58 on the body portion 46.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the plastering plate 4 and/or the securing plate 12 may be made of metal, for example stainless steel. The handle 6 is preferably made of a plastics material but it could alternatively be made of wood. The suspension means 8 may be other than the illustrated pad of plastics foam material. The securing means 10 may be other than the illustrated sliding securing means. The handle 6 may alternatively be a fixed handle 6. With a fixed handle 6, the illustrated removable securing means 10 will not be required and the handle 6 can be fixed directly to the plate 22.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A plastering trowel comprising a plastering plate, a handle extending parallel to the plastering plate, and suspension means which is positioned between the plastering plate and the handle and which enables the plastering plate to move with respect to the handle during plastering, the movement being such that the plastering plate is able to flex independently of the handle whereby the plastering plate is able to follow contoured surfaces and without straining the wrist of the plasterer using the plastering trowel.
2. A plastering trowel according to claim 1 in which the suspension means is a layer of a plastics foam material.
3. A plastering trowel according to claim I in which the plastics foam material is 8 -12mm thick.
4. A plastering trowel according to claim 3 in which the plastics foam material is 10mm thick.
5. A plastering trowel according to claim 2 in which the plastics foam material is a polyethylene foam.
6. A plastering trowel according to any one of the preceding claims in which the plastering plate is a plastics plate.
7. A plastering trowel according to claim 6 in which the plastics plate is made of polyvinyl chloride.
8. A plastering trowel according to claim 7 in which the polyvinyl chloride is calendered polyvinyl chloride.
9. A plastering trowel according to any one of the preceding claims in which the plastering plate is 2mm thick.
10. A plastering trowel according to any one of the preceding claims in which the handle is a removable handle, and in which the plastering trowel includes securing means for securing the removable handle in position on the plastering trowel.
11. A plastering trowel according to claim 10 in which the securing means is a slide securing means.
12. A plastering trowel according to claim 11 in which the slide securing means comprises a securing plate which is fixed to the handle, and a receiving formation which is for receiving the securing plate and which is fixed to a side of the suspension means remote from the plastering plate.
13. A plastering trowel according to claim 12 in which the receiving formation comprises a pair of side channels which receive opposite edges of the securing plate.
14. A plastering trowel according to claim 13 in which the receiving formation comprises a lead-in portion for guiding a leading edge of the securing plate into the side channels.
15. A plastering trowel according to claim 14 in which the receiving formation comprises an end channel for receiving the leading edge of the securing plate.
16. A plastering trowel according to any one of claims I -9 in which the handle is a fixed handle.
17. A plastering trowel according to any one of the preceding claims in which the handle is made of a plastics material.
18. A plastering trowel substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
19. A plastering kit comprising a plurality of plastering trowels according to any one of claims 10 -15, and a container for the plastering trowels, the plastering trowels being such that when they are in the container then the handles are separate from the plastering plates, and the plastering plates being such that they are of a different size to each other.
20. A plastering kit according to claim 19 in which the container comprises a body portion and a lid, and in which the body portion comprises a plurality of recesses each for receiving a part of the plastering trowel.