US2701465A - Plasterer's trowel and the like - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 8, 1955 JOHNSON EI'AL PLASTERER'S TROWEL AND THE LIKE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 10 1950 HI llll Ill] IIIH If INVENTOR. Leon Johnson fldelber l' z. Wesi'on g ro/wan Feb. 8, 1955 L. JOHNSON ETAL 2,701,465

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 A I, usm 'gilmggm L. JOHNSON ET AL PLASTEIRER'S TROWEL AND THE LIKE Feb. 8, 1955 Filed Oct. -1o, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent PLASTERERS TROWEL AND THE LIKE Leon Johnson, Houston, Tex., and Adelbert E. Weston, Neosho, Mo.

Application October 10, 1950, Serial No. 189,358

6 Claims. (Cl. 72-136) Our invention relates to improvements in plasterers trowels and the like.

Briefly and generally stated, the invention contemplates certain novel features of plasterers trowel formation and construction which, generally speaking, will enable a second grade workman to duplicate the work of an expert in about two-thirds of the time ordinarily required by the expert for a given job. The foregoing applies particularly to so-called inside and outside corner formation and to the finishing of plaster board walls, which latter present joints to be filled.

It is the general practice of the trade, when filling joints between wall board, or for that matter when forming either inside or outside corners or junctions between wall surfaces-to trowel-throw quantities of plaster (or mu as the workmen call it) at lineally spaced points of said joints or corners, as the case may be. Such quantities of plaster are then trowelled to provide smooth plane surfaces. And when an inside or outside corner is to be formed, it is almost impossible for even an expert workman operating with the usual plane surfaced trowel to produce an absolutely straight or accurate junction between angularly intersecting walls.

Then, too, plaster or mud tends to pass over the leading edge of the ordinary trowel and accumulates on its back or hand grip side, which is of course, a nuisance as it has to be periodically scraped ofi. Also, the leading edges of prior art trowels tend to dig into and mar the surfaces being finished and this tendency further makes it diflicult to apply a plaster layer of uniform thickness and finish it to produce a smooth surface.

Trowels made according to our invention overcome the difliculties aforementioned and by so doing not only make for the accomplishment of better work in a shorter time than heretofore, but enable it to be so done by relatively unskilled workmen. Thus, the cost of plastering work is greatly reduced.

A highly important feature of our trowels is the provision of an intermediate excess plaster-gathering working surface recess which in the operation of the tool feeds the plaster to adjacent wall-surface finishing surfaces thereof as required. Thus, the wall-surface finishing surfaces of the trowel need never be opposed to a plaster layer which is thicker than can be readily handled.

Also, having in mind that a batch of plaster mix will frequently contain an excess of water, the excess plastergathering recess mentioned in the preceeding paragraph is advantageously progressively constricted in the direction of the wall-finishing working surface portion of the trowel so that in the operation of same excess water will be squeezed out prior to delivery of the plaster to said wall-finishing working surface portion of the implement.

Additionally, and more specifically stated the invention contemplates, a plasterers trowel, or the like, having a plaster-gathering recess opening from its forward or leading edge, and which tapers to reduced depth and width in the direction of the approximate center of a rear, or trailing plaster-applying and wall finishing area, to which plaster is discharged. The invention furthermore provides trowel-supporting working areas at each side of said plaster-gathering recess so that in use, the leading end of the trowel will not dig into and mar the wall being worked upon.

A further and more specific object of the invention is to provide a plasterers trowel which may conveniently be made from comparatively thin metal stock so that it will have the advantage of lightness, there being employed novel reinforcing and hand grip-carrying means which prevent deformation of the tool when in use.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention Patented Feb. 8, 1955 will become apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying drawings in connection with the following detailed description of the several forms of our invention which have been illustrated.

In accordance with the patent statutes, the drawings disclose several now-preferred embodiments of the invention, but they are to be taken as illustrative rather than limitative since it will be obvious that various changes and modifications may be made therein within tlfle spirit and scope of the subject matter claimed hereina ter.

In the drawings, wherein the same reference characters have been used to designate the same parts throughout the several views- Fig. 1 is a plan view showing the hand grip side of a trowel embodying my invention and which is designed for producing outside corners;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the working or inner side of the trowel shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the back or handle side of another form of tool designed to be employed for producing finside corners;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but showing the working surface of the trowel disclosed in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 66 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a trowel embodying my invention and designed to fill and finish joints between wall board;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of the working surface of the tool shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 10-10 of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified form of the invention as shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9.

Referring to the drawings by reference characters and turning to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, this form of trowel is designed for finishing so-called outside corners, which is to say Wall surfaces which are disposed at substantially right angles to one another.

Thus, the tool of Figs. 1, 2 and 3 comprises a body 10 providing right angularly disposed wings 11 of rectangular form which intersect at 12, as shown in Fig. 1.

The hand grip 13, as shown in Fig. 1, is carried at the back of the trowel 10 and will be referred to later on herein along with its mounting means which functions also as reinforcement for the plate-like body 10.

Fig. 2 shows that the wings 11 provide trailing plasterapplying and wall finishing surfaces 14 which are plane and extend inwardly a substantial distance from the rear, or trailing end of the trowel, these surfaces 14'intersecting at the straight line 15.

In carrying out the invention, we provide, extending from the forward or leading edge of the trowel 10, a concavo-convex formation, preferably of cone-like outline, which forms the plaster-receiving throat-like pocket 16 in the working surfaces of the wings 11 below the finishing surfaces 14 thereof. The throat-like pocket 16 is in part provided by each wing 11, as indicated, and tapers from the forward, or leading end of the tool to the point 16b at the inner end of the wing surface intersection line 15 of Fig. 2. The concaved throat-like pocket 16 is progressively reduced in depth from its outer end in the direction of its inner terminal 16b. Also, by preference, the outer end 16a of said throat-like pocket will preferably approximate 180, more or less, the curvature not necessarily conforming to that of a true circle curvature.

Thus, as the trowel is moved downwardly in the formation of an outside corner, the spaced gobs of previously deposited plaster will be gathered by the wide open end 16a of the cone-form throat-like pocket and progressively converged inwardly by the walls of said throat to be ultimately discharged to the trailing plaster-applying and wall finishing surfaces 14 of the wings beyond the inner throat terminal 16b. This operation tends to squeeze excess water from the plaster discharged from throat 16 to the trailing plaster-applying and wall finishing surfaces 14 of the wings.

Laterally of the inner end 16b of the throat-like pocket 16 the wings 11 provide guiding and finishing surfaces 17 which are plane and terminate at the forward, or leading edge of the tool.

Earlier reference has been made herein to the fact that in the use of plasterers trowels of the prior art the plaster tended to gather on the back or handle side of the trowel at each working stroke of same; and also that the leading edges of same tend to dig into and sear the wall surface. To obviate occurrence of this in the use of our tool we provide the forward, or leading edge of same with an outwardly turned plaster-deflecting flange 18, as shown, said flange having the curved portion 18a at the site of the outer end of the pocket-like throat 16. Thus, in the use of our tool, excess plaster is pushed downwardly and will not accumulate on the back or handle surface of the implement. Also, the flange portions 18 help the operator to maintain at uniform thickness the plaster layer being worked.

Referring now to the hand grip 13 and its mount, and turning to Figs. 1 and 3, it will be noted that the hand grip 13 is generally cylindrical in form although it may be of any cross-sectional shape. The ends of the hand grip 13 are secured by screws 19 or the like to the metal pieces 20, 21 which are Welded or otherwise secured to the aligned U-shaped mid-portions 22, 23, respectively, of reinforcing bars. The U-shaped portions 22, 23 of these reinforcing bars have legs 22a, 23a, respectively, which terminate in arms 22b, 23b, which are welded or otherwise secured as at 24 to the outer surfaces of the wings 11. Thus, the handle-supporting means 22, 23, etc., reinforces the wing-form body to prevent deformation of the same in service, even when the U-shaped portions 22, 23, are spaced from the convex outer surface of the pocket-like throat 16, as shown in Fig. 3.

Summarizing the description of the tool shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, it will be apparent that a novice in the plastering trade can form a good, accurate outside corner junction between wall surfaces. To accomplish this, all he has to do is to press the tool against the corner with end 18, 18a lowermost, making sure that the wing surfaces 17 are in contact with the opposed wall surfaces, and then work the tool downward in strokes of appropriate length.

The second form of the instant invention disclosed in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 is, as previously indicated, designed for finishing so-called inside corners, which is to say, those formed by wall surfaces which intersect at an angle of 90, more or less. The instant tool is designed for 90 wall surface intersections which are of most frequent occurrence.

As shown in Fig. 5, the plate-like body 25 comprehends the angularity disposed wings 26 which intersect at their inner ends at 27 and provide the laterally coextensive plaster-applying and finishing rear or trailing surfaces 29 which intersect at straight line 30 for a distance inwardly from the trailing rear edge of the tool to the plane of the inner end 31b of the cone-form throat 31. The cone-form throat 31 has the diverging side edges 310 which terminate in the widened throat end 31a at the forward, or leading edge of the tool. A hand grip 28 is provided at the outer side of the trowel and its mounting will be referred to presently.

The inwardly tapering sides 310 of the concaved throat 31 define the inner edges of the tool guiding and secondary finishing surfaces 32 of the wings. These guiding surfaces 32 are plane and merge at their rear ends with the plaster-applying and finishing surfaces 29, previously referred to, as shown in Fig. 5.

The forward, or leading end of the plate-like body 25 has the outwardly turned plaster-deflecting flange 33 which has the intermediate curved portion 33a at the site of the rear end 31a of the throat 31. The flange 33, 33a functions in the same fashion as the flange 18, 18a of the Figs. l3 form of trowel.

Turning to Figs. 4 and 6, the hand grip 28 is secured by screws 28a to metal strips 34, 35 which are welded to the mid-portions 36, 37, respectively, of the plate bodyreinforcing rods which have the arm terminals 36a, 37a, respectively. The arm terminals 36a, 37a of reinforcing rods 36, 37 are welded as at 38 to the exterior surfaces of the wings 26, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 6. The reinforcing mid rod portion 36 has legs 36b connecting it with its arms 36a and may be spaced slightly from the convex exterior surface portion of the pocket-like throat 31 without weakening the tool. As in the case of the members 22, 23, etc. of the Figs. 1, 2 and 3 expression of the invention, the handle-carrying arms 36, 36a and 37, 37a prevent deformation of the trowel body 25 despite the rough treatment to which it may be subjected in service.

In operation, the Fig. 4-6 embodiment of the invention functions generically in the same fashion as that disclosed in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. In other words, the widened forward, or leading end 31a of the pocket-like throat 31 gathers the plaster inwardly and feeds it to the trailing finishing wing surfaces 29 at the point 31b (see Fig. 5). The surfaces 29, 32 serve to guide the course of the trowel as it is moved downwardly of the inside" wall corner which is being formed and finished.

The third form of the invention, illustrated in Figs. 7, 8, 9, and 10, is, as will be apparent, designed for finishing a plane surfaced wall and particularly, although not necessarily one formed by plaster board in which there are joints to be filled and finished. In carrying out this expression of our invention, the trowel comprises a generally rectangular plate 39 having what may be (as shown in Figs. 7 and 8) a continuous plane plasterapplying and finishing surface 40 extending inwardly for a distance from its rear, or trailing edge and coextensive in width with said plate 39.

The mid-portion of the plate 39 of Figs. 7, 8 and 9 has the comparatively flat-arced concave-convex formation which provides the concaved throat 41 tapering from its wide portion at the forward, or leading end of the plate 39 to reduced width at its inner end, which latter is located at the inner end of the plaster-applying and finishing surface 40. This concaved throat portion 41 converges excess plaster inwardly as the tool is stroked downwardly in use and delivers it to the plane plasterapplying and finishing surface 40 at a point between opposite side edges as will be readily understood from an inspection of Fig. 8.

Still referring to Figs. 7, 8 and 9, surfaces 40a at opposite sides of the throat portion 41 form continuations of the rear, or trailing plaster-feeding and finishing surface 40 and terminate at the forward, or leading edge of the plate 39, as seen in Fig. 8.

The handle 42 is shown carried by the rear surface of the plate 39 and the drawings show the forward, or leading edge of such plate 39 as having an outwardly directed plaster-deflecting flange 43 coextensive with such edge, there being a curved portion 43a of said flange at the widened leading end of the throat 41. This flange, 43, 43a functions as do the corresponding flanges 18, 18a and 33, 33a respectively, of Figs. 2 and 7.

The handle 42 is secured by screws 44 to the outstanding metal pieces 45, 46 which are welded to the curved intermediate portions 47a, 480, respectively, of reinforcing bars 47, 48. These reinforcing bars are spot welded or otherwise secured to the plate 39 at each side of the concavo-convex throat-providing portion 41. As in the previously described forms of the invention, the bars 47, 48 reinforce the plate 39 to prevent deformation of same in service.

When the trowel of Figs. 7, 8 and 9 is employed for filling the joint between wall board the concave throat 41 will be aligned with said joint. A stroking movement of the tool flanged end 43 first in line with said joint effects eflicient filling and finishing of the joint between adjacent wall board sections.

However, since some plaster tends to shrink as it dries, it may be desirable to form the rear, or trailing plasterapplying and finishing surface 40 of the Figs. 7, 8 and 9 type tool with a slight concaved curvature as indicated at 52 in the corresponding surface 51 of the plate-like body of Fig. 10. There, the plate-like body 50 of the trowel has the inwardly tapering concaved throat 51 extending from the rear edge to the forward edge of the plaster-applying and finishing surface 51.

Thus, plaster as initially applied to the joint will be convexly ridged slightly but after drying will be substantially in plane with the wall surfaces at each side. Thus a minimum of sanding will be required to bring the joint filling into exact plane with adjoining surfaces.

As to the inside and outside corner tools of Figs. 4 and 1, respectively, the junctions of the finishing surfaces at lines 30, 15, respectively, may if desired be rounded more or less so as not to produce a sharp corner at the wall surface intersection.

By way of operational summary, it will be understood that each of the illustrated forms of the invention provides the plaster-gathering recess such as 16 of Fig. 2. This recess 16, as well as the corresponding recess 31 of Fig. 5 and 40 of Fig. 8, opens from the forward, or leading edge, of the trowel and tapers to reduced depth and width in the direction of the approximate center of the rear, or trailing plaster-applying, or wall finishing area to which the gathered plaster is discharged. Such trailing or finishing area is indicated at 14--14 in Fig. 1; at 29-29 in Fig. 5 and at 39-39 in Fig. 8.

The respective throat-form recesses 16, etc. squeeze out excess water from the plaster before delivery of the latter to the working surfaces such as 17-17 (Fig. 2). Then too, the working surfaces such as 17, 17 (Fig. 2) at either side of recess 16, cooperate with the trailing plasterapplying and wall finishing surface areas such as 14, 14 (Fig. 2) in the production of good work. Such surfaces as 17, 17 (Fig. 2) also support the trowel and prevent the forward or leading edge of the latter from digging into and marring the soft wall surface.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be apparent that tools in accordance with our invention may be expeditiously manufactured at low cost and greatly facilitate the plasterers Work.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

l. A plasterers trowel or the like comprising in combination a plate-like body, hand grip means carried at one side of said body, the other side of said body providing different surface working areas, one of said surface-working areas comprising a combined plaster-applying and wall-finishing area extending forwardly from the rear or trailing end of said body for a minor portion of the length thereof, said surface-working area being substantially coextensive in width with said body; a longitudinally extending throat-form recess at the second-mentioned side of said body and opening rearwardly from the forward or leading end of the latter and intermediate the side edges thereof, said throat-form recess tapering to reduced depth and width in the direction of the approximate midportion of said first-mentioned area between the side edges thereof and communicating therewith, whereby to effect the concentrated supply of plaster to said first mentioned area as the trowel is moved along the wall surface being worked upon, two trowel-supporting surface-working areas provided by the said body and extending outwardly from the respective side edges of said throat-recess and longitudinally coextensive therewith, said last mentioned surface-working areas merging with adjacent portions of the first-mentioned surface-working area and being respectively coplanar therewith.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 and said platelike body comprising a comparatively thin sheet metal stamping having a raised convexity at the hand grip side conforming to the outline of said throat-form recess, laterally spaced, transversely extending body-reinforcing bars terminating adjacent opposite edges of said body at the hand grip side thereof, and secured thereto, said bars spanning said convexity whereby to resist deformation of the latter and reinforce the surface working portions of said body, and means securing said hand grip to certain of said reinforcing bars.

3. A plasterers trowel or the like comprising in com bination, a plate-like body divided longitudinally into two angularly disposed laterally extending wings, hand grip means carried at one side of said body, the other side of said wing form body providing different surface-working areas, one of said surface-working areas comprising a combined plaster-applying and wall-finishing area extending forwardly for a short distance from the rear or trailing end of said body and being substantially coextensive in width with said wings; a longitudinally extending throat-form recess in part formed by each of said wings at the second-mentioned side of said body and opening rearwardly from the forward or leading end thereof, said throat-form recess tapering to reduced depth and width in the direction of the junction between said wings and terminating at said first-mentioned area in communication therewith short of the rear or trailing end of said body, whereby to effect the concentrated supply of plaster to the region of the junction point between the two wingprovided portions of said first-mentioned area as the trowel is moved along the junction of angularly disposed wall surfaces, and a plane trowel-supporting surface-working tit area provided by each wing and extending outwardly from the proximate side edge of said throat recess and longitudinally coextensive therewith, said last-mentioned surface-working areas merging with the related wing-provided portion of said first-mentioned surface-working area, and being coplanar therewith.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3, and said platelike body comprising a comparatively thin sheet metal stamping, a raised convexity at the hand grip side of said body and conforming to the outline of said throatform recess, laterally spaced, transversely extending body reinforcing bars terminating adjacent opposite edges of said body and spanning said convexity, said oars secured to the hand grip side of said body at opposite sides of said convexity, whereby to resist deformation of the latter and reinforce the working surface-providing portions of said body, and means securing said hand grip to certain of said reinforcing bars.

5. A plasterers trowel or the like comprising in combination a plate-like body, hand grip means carried at one side of said body, the other side of said body providing different surface-working areas, one of said surface-working areas comprising a combined plaster-applying and wall-finishing area extending forwardly for a minor portion of the length of said body from the rear or trailing end thereof, said surface-working area being substantially coextensive in width with said body; a longitudinally extending throat-form recess at the second-mentioned side of said body and opening rearwardly from the forward or leading end of the latter intermediate the side edges thereof, said throat-form recess tapering to reduced depth and width in the direction of the approximate midportion of the said first-mentioned area between the side edges thereof, said throat-form recess communicating with said first mentioned area short of the rear or trailing end of said body, whereby to effect the concentrated supply of plaster to the mid-portion of said first-mentioned area as the trowel is moved along the wall surface being worked upon, and two trowel-supporting surface-working areas provided by said body and extending outwardly from the respective side edges of said throat recess and longitudinally coextensive therewith, said last-mentioned working surface-working areas merging with adjacent portions of the first-mentioned surface-working area and being respectively, coplanar therewith.

6. A plasterers trowel or the like comprising in combination, a plate-like body divided longitudinally into two angularly disposed laterally extending wings, hand grip means carried at one side of said body, the other side of said wing form body providing different surface-working areas, one of said surface-working areas comprising a combined plaster-applying and wall-finishing surface extending forwardly a short distance from the rear or trailing end of said body and substantially coextensive in width witr said wings; a longitudinally extending throatform recess in part formed by each of said wings at the second-mentioned side of said body and opening rearwardly from the forward or leading end of the latter between the side edges thereof, said throat-form recess tapering to reduced depth and width in the direction of the junction between said wings and communicating with said first-mentioned area whereby to elfect the concentrated supply of plaster to the region of the junction point between the two wing-provided portions of said first-mentioned area as the trowel is moved along the junction of angularly disposed wall surfaces, and a plane trowel-supporting surface-working area provided by each wing and extending outwardly from the proximate side edge of said throat recess and longitudinally coextensive therewith, said last-mentioned surface-working areas merging with the related wing-provided portion of said first-mentioned surface-working area, and being coplanar therewith.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 397,129 Hill Feb. 5, 1889 515,890 Walrath Mar. 6, 1894 1,999,367 McCorkle Apr. 30, 1935 2,007,004 Roberts July 2, 1935 2,339,235 Allen Jan. 18, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS 202,078 Germany Aug. 4, 1907

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