US3013291A - Grout applicator - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 19, 1961 Filed June 26, 1959 J. J. MATRICK 3,013,291

GROUT APPLICATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. MAE/E G. TYLER, 6042.0/4/14 EfT4TE 0/: /OH/V d Mare/cg Dec. 19, 1961 Filed June 26, 1959 I J. J. MATRICK GROUT APPLICATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. MAE/5 G. 7Y4 5,9, G04e0/4/ ESTATE OF c /O///V c/ 4447/9/6'16,

United States Patent Office 3,013,291 Patented Dec. ,19, 1361 3,013,291 GROUT APPLICATOR John J. Matrick, incompetent, by Marie G. Tyler, guardian, bothof 468 S. Oakhurst Drive, ,Beverly Hills,

This invention relates to applicator devices for adhesive material, for example, for use in laying linoleum, applying plastic tile, applying ceramic or clay tile, or for spreading adhesive material for any other purpose.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved adhesive applicator which is simple in construction, which is easy to use, and which provides accurate and economical distribution of adhesive material on a surface. I i

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved adhesive applicator particularly suitably for use in spreading adhesive 'material iri the process of laying linoleum, applying tile, or for any other purpose wherein adhesive material is'to be'evenly and economically distributed, the applicator being inexpensive to manufacture, being durable in construction, being relatively light in weight, and providing a great saving in time andlabor in spreading adhesive material on a surface.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of one form of adhesive applicator constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation view of the adhesive ap plicator shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a rear end elevational view of the adhesive applicator of FIGURES l and 2;

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal vertical cross sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a transverse cross sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of another form of adhesive applicator constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross sectional view taken through the forward marginal portion of the adhesive applicator of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a bottom plan view of a further modified form of adhesive applicator according to the present invention;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of the gorwaird portion of the adhesive applicator of FIGURE all FIGURE 10 is an enlarged cross sectional detail View taken on line 10-10 of FIGURE 9.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGURES 1 to 5, 11 generally designates one form of adhesive applicator according to the present invention.

The applicator comprises a body molded of resilient deformable material, such as rubber or the like, said body being shown at 12. The body 12 comprises an elongated handle portion 13 and a concaved blade element 14 merging with one end of the handle element 13, the blade element diverging in Width from the handle element 13 and having a depending forward marginal portion 15 which terminates in a fiat bottom edge 16, said edge lying in a common horizontal plane, as viewed in FIGURE 4.

The blade element 14 is provided with depending side portions 17, said side portions merging with the main depending portion 15 and defining a generally rectangular enclosure 18 having the right angled corner portions verse cross sectional shape.

reinforcing wire 20 embedded in and extending completely around the peripheral margin ofthe body, the wire 20 being of substantial stiffness and thus serving to maintain the body] 12 permanently in its original shape. The reinforcing wire 20 extendsfaround the margin of the handle portion 13, as well as around the remaining marginal portions of the applicator, being suitably bent to follow the'marginal contour of the applicator.

Embedded in the body 12 area plurality of plies of suitable fabric reinforcing material, shown at 21, for example, canvas or similar sturdy fabric, t he reinforcing fabric elements 21 extending over a major portion of the length of the body12 and extending into the handle portion 13, as is clearly shown in FIGURE 4.

Thetop surface of the blade member 14 is integrally formed at its rear portion with a plurality of distributed spaced upstanding projections 22 to facilitate the'ma'nipuformed adjacent its end with an aperture 24 which may be employedto suspend the implement on a'suitable hook or nail when not in use.

As shown in FIGURES 3 and 5, the blade member 14 is downwardly concave and has a generally arcuate trans- The blade member 14 thus defines a cup-like receptacle therebeneath which is employed to gather and spread adhesive material, such as the mastic material or other grouting material employed in laying linoleum or applying tile. The downwardly concave blade member 14 serves as a means for retaining and cupping of the adhesive during the spreading thereof, providing accurate control of the spreading of the adhesive, eliminating waste of the adhesive or dripping thereof when working on such surfaces as ceilings, walls, sink drain boards, floors, or the like, and providing better application of the adhesive to ceilings than can be obtained with rigid applicators, because of the flexibility thereof.

Since the blade member 14 is substantially resilient and I since the depending marginal portions thereof, namely, the portions thereof adjacent the smoothing edge 16 are relatively yieldable, the smoothing edge portion of the implement tends to expand responsive to pressure applied to the implement during the use thereof, thus Widening the implement and increasing its effective work-engaging width.

Referring now to the form of the invention illustrated in FIGURES 6 and 7, the implement is designated generally at 11' and is similar to the previously described form of the invention except that the blade member, shown at 14' is provided with a generally arcuately curved bottom edge portion 16', the arcuate edge portion 16? extending generally transverse to the handle portion, shown at 13. As in the previously described form of the invention, the implement 11' is provided with the peripheral reinforcing wire, shown at 20 which is embedded in the resilient deformable body and which extends completely around the peripheral margin thereof. Likewise, the body has molded therein a plurality of plies of flexible fabric material, shown at 21 to reinforce the top portion of body 14 to prevent stretching thereof, the fabric material terial, such as rubber, or the like, formed with a plurality of spaced depending teeth 37, said teeth having straight bottom edges 38, lying in a common plane, said bottom edges 38 having right angled corners 39, whereby the teeth are generally square in shape. The teeth 37 are also flexible and tend to spread outwardly responsive to downward pressure exerted on the implement, thus increasing the effective width of the contacting portion of the implement. Otherwise the structure of the implement shown in FIGURES 8, 9 and 10 are similar to that illustrated in FIGURES 6 and 7.

While certain specific embodiments of an improved grout applicator have been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A grout applicator comprising a body molded of resilient deformable material and comprising an elongated handle portion and a downwardly concave blade element merging with one end of said handle portion, said concave blade element diverging in width from said handle portion and having depending side and forward marginal portions, said depending forward marginal portion having its bottom edge contained substantially in a common plane, a relatively stifi reinforcing wire embedded in and extending completely around a peripheral margin of said body,

a plurality of plies of flexible reinforcing fabric material embedded in the intermediate portion of said body and extending into said handle portion, said bottom edge being arcuately curved and extending generally transversely to said handle portion, and a vertical strip of resilient deformable material mounted on said bottom edge, said strip being formed with a plurality of evenly spaced depending teeth, said teeth having spaced bottom edges lying in a common plane spaced closely below the aforesaid plane, said last named bottom edges having right-angled corners, whereby the teeth are generally square in shape, said teeth being flexible and tending to spread outwardly responsive to pressure exerted on the applicator, whereby to increase the effective width of the contacting portion of the applicator, said concave blade element serving as a means for retaining and cupping adhesive material during the spreading of such material on a ceiling.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 948,631 Lane Feb. 8, 1910 2,008,952 Gach July 23, 1935 2,046,599 Andrews July 7, 1936 2,094,703 Hitzman Oct. 5, 1937 2,287,231 Cathcard et a1 June 23, 1942 2,347,963 ONeil May 2, 1944 2,806,240 Cottar Sept. 17, 1957

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