WO2018087534A1

WO2018087534A1 - Smoothing tool and smoothing tool system

Info

Publication number: WO2018087534A1
Application number: PCT/GB2017/053353
Authority: WO
Inventors: Scott Rampling
Original assignee: Scott Cutters Uk Ltd
Priority date: 2016-11-11
Filing date: 2017-11-08
Publication date: 2018-05-17
Also published as: GB2556044A; GB2571216A; GB201907214D0; GB2556044A8

Abstract

A smoothing tool for smoothing a flowable or semi-flowable material, the tool comprising a main body (2) that comprises two, three or more tips (3), each of the tips having a different predetermined profile to be imparted to a material that is smoothed using the tool, wherein each of the tips projects from the tool at an oblique angle.

Description

Smoothing Tool and Smoothing Tool System

The present invention relates to a smoothing tool. It further relates to a smoothing tool that allows for the mounting of a cutting tool thereon; and to a system combining a smoothing tool and a cutting tool mountable on the smoothing tool.

Various flowable and semiflowable materials, particularly in the building trade are traditionally marketed in sealed cartridges. Such materials include, for example, sealants for use in bathrooms or elsewhere. Such cartridges generally take the form of a cylindrical body containing a displaceable piston at one end and have a dispensing cap at the opposite end with the material to be dispensed sandwiched in between. The cap typically supports an outwardly projecting dispensing tube which is externally screw threaded and sealed at its distal end. A dispensing nozzle is provided to be screw threadedly mounted on the dispensing tube. The nozzle has a cylindrical end portion with an internal screw thread adapted to screw threadedly engage the tube of the cap and a tapered portion extending away from the cylindrical end portion so that both internal and external diameters progressively reduce with distance from the cylindrical end portion.

To make the cartridge ready for use the end of the dispensing tube needs to be severed at right angles to its axis to release the material within the body. Also the tapered portion of the nozzle needs to be severed to provide the appropriate size of dispensing orifice from the nozzle.

Typically, a user will make the necessary cuts using a knife. The operation is, however, awkward and there is a risk of injury to a user who is not paying full attention or does not take due care at the time of cutting. Once in use, a user will typically use a spreader/smoothing tool to smooth out a continuous bead of material that has been dispensed from the cartridge through the nozzle. Spreader tool sets are available that comprise a number of different spreading tools, wherein by selection of an appropriate tool, a desired profile may be imparted on the material bead.

The present invention arose in a bid to provide an improved spreader tool.

According to the present invention in a first aspect, there is provided a smoothing tool for smoothing a flowable or semi-flowable material, the tool comprising a main body that comprises two, three or more tips, each of the tips having a different predetermined profile to be imparted to a material that is smoothed using the tool, wherein each of the tips projects from the tool at an oblique angle.

By the oblique projection of the tips, the tips may project downwards relative to the main body. The arrangement of the tips may be such that the tool may be placed against a planar surface with all of the tips contacting the planar surface and the main body spaced from the planar surface. The main body (or a base of the main body) may be substantially planar. In this case, the oblique projection of the tips will be relative to the plane of the main body (or base). The tips may be bent out of plane. In arrangements in which the main body is not substantially planar, the tips may project an oblique angle to a primary plane that transects the main body (or a base of the main body). The primary plane being a plane overlapping the maximum footprint of the main body (or base).

The smoothing tool preferably comprises an integrated holder for receiving a cutting tool. According to the present invention in a further aspect, there is provided a smoothing tool for smoothing a flowable or semi-flowable material, the tool comprising a main body that comprises two, three or more tips, each of the tips having a different predetermined profile to be imparted to a material that is smoothed using the tool; and an integrated holder for receiving a cutting tool.

The tips according to both aspects project in different directions to one another. With the tips at an oblique angle they may all project with a common directional component (i.e. downwards).

According to the present invention in a further aspect, there is provided a smoothing tool system comprising a smoothing tool, as defined in any of the statements above, and a cutting tool receivable by the holder.

Further, preferred, features of the spreading tool and the spreading tool system are presented in the dependent claims. A smoothing tool embodying the present invention and a smoothing tool system comprising the same, will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:

Figures 1 and 2 show perspective views of a smoothing tool according to a first embodiment;

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a smoothing tool system comprising the smoothing tool of Figures 1 and 2 and a cutting tool received thereby;

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the smoothing tool of Figures 1 and 2 with a lid provided;

Figure 5 shows a plan view of the smoothing tool of Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 6 shows a perspective view of a smoothing tool according to a second embodiment;

Figure 7 shows a perspective view of a smoothing tool system comprising the smoothing tool of Figure 6 and a cutting tool received thereby;

Figure 8 shows a perspective view of the smoothing tool of Figure 6 with a lid provided;

Figure 9 shows a plan view of the smoothing tool of Figure 6; Figure 10 shows a perspective view from below of the lid of the smoothing tool shown in Figure 7;

Figure 1 1 shows a perspective view of an exemplary cutter to be received by the smoothing tool of Figures 1 and 6;

Figure 12 shows a plan view from below of the cutter of Figure 1 1 ; and

Figure 13 shows a sectional view of an exemplary cartridge of the type that may contain a flowable or semi-flowable material.

In accordance with a first embodiment, as shown in Figures 1 to 5, there is provided a smoothing tool 1 for smoothing a flowable or semi-flowable material. The tool 1 comprises a main body 2, which comprises two, three or more tips 3. Each tip 3 has a predetermined profile to be imparted to a material that is smoothed using the tool. Each of the tips projects from the tool at an oblique angle.

The tool may comprise an integrated holder, as shown, for receiving a cutting tool. Whilst the first embodiment features such an integrated holder, as is preferable, the integrated holder may be omitted from the first embodiment. In accordance with a second embodiment, as shown in Figures 6 to 10, there is provided a smoothing tool for smoothing a flowable or semi-flowable material, the tool comprising a main body that comprises two, three or more tips, each of the tips having a different predetermined profile to be imparted to a material that is smoothed using the tool; and an integrated holder for receiving a cutting tool.

The tool may comprise tips that project at an oblique angle, as with the first embodiment. Common features between the first and second embodiments will be described with common reference numerals. Features of the first and second embodiments may be combined to provide alternative/hybrid arrangements, in accordance with the discussion below.

In the disclosed arrangements the smoothing tool has three tips 3, each of which has a different predetermined profile to the remaining tips. By different predetermined profile it is meant that the profiles may differ in size and/or shape. In the present arrangement, the tips are all curved and have different radii of curvature to one another. In alternative arrangements, the tips could be square or tapered, for example. Any combination of different tip profiles may be combined in a single smoothing tool.

The tips of the first embodiment, as best seen in Figure 2, project at an oblique angle from the base (and thereby the main body). They project at an oblique angle downwardly, as seen in Figures 1 and 2. The arrangement of the tips may be such that the tool may be placed against a planar surface with all of the tips contacting the planar surface and the main body spaced from the planar surface. They project in a direction that is opposed to the direction in which the holder projects in the depicted arrangement but could project in the same direction as the direction in which the holder projects in alternative arrangements. They project at an oblique angle with respect to the plane of the base when, as depicted, it is planar. In arrangements in which the main body is not substantially planar, the tips may project an oblique angle to a primary plane that transects the main body (or a base of the main body). The primary plane being a plane overlapping the maximum footprint of the main body (or base). Possible non-planar arrangements include a substantially domed or pyramidal main bodies.

The tips of the second embodiment, in contrast, to the first embodiment project within the plane of the base. In both embodiments, the tips project in different directions to one another

(radially). With three tips 3, the smoothing tools of the present arrangements are substantially triangular in form with three side edges 8 extending between each pair of adjacent tips 3. It has been found that the addition of a curvature to each of the side edges 8 can be beneficial. In the disclosed first embodiment, the side edges 8 are curved. They are concavely curved. The side edged could, however, be straight, or otherwise shaped, as seen in the second embodiment. A

substantially triangular shape for the tool is useful, as will be discussed below in greater detail. However, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, numerous alternative shapes of smoothing tool 1 may be provided. Such differently shaped smoothing tools may comprise two, three or more tips. Example alternative shapes include different polygons, including squares, pentagons, stars, etc, or any alternative shapes which may or may not include straight or curved sides or which may include a combination of both straight and curved sides. In the case of any polygonal shape, the tips may be provided between adjacent sides of the polygon. They may comprise one or more vertices of the polygon.

The main body 2 and holder 4 (when provided) of the smoothing tool are preferably integrally formed. Most preferably they are unitarily formed from plastic. The plastic chosen will preferably impart a desired flexibility to the tool for its use in smoothing flowable and semi-flowable materials.

In the present arrangements the main body comprises a base 5, which comprises the tips 3, and the holder 4 projects from the base. The base 5 comprises a first (upper) side 6 from which the holder projects and a second (lower) side 7 which comprises a substantially planar surface. In the present arrangement, the base itself is substantially planar in its entirety. In alternative arrangements, only the lower side may comprise a planar surface or neither the upper or lower side may comprise a planar surface. The provision of a lower surface that is planar is useful, however, since it expands the uses for the tool, especially when combined with at least one straight edge. For example, the lower planar surface may itself be used to spread out or smooth a material, such a tiling grout or otherwise, with one of the tips used to apply a desired profile to the grout between adjacent tiles.

Whilst the holder 4 could take any of numerous different forms to suit the specific arrangement of the cutting tool that is to be received thereby, in the present arrangements the holder comprises an open receptacle, which receives a cutting tool 9 as shown in Figures 3 and 7. An open receptacle is preferred, since it provides the opportunity to seal the cutting tool within the holder by closing the receptacle with a lid, as discussed further below. Alternative arrangements of holder could comprise elements that are received by the cutter for retaining it in place, such as projections, clips, or otherwise. In the present arrangements the open receptacle is defined by an annular wall 10 that projects substantially perpendicularly from the upper side 6 of the main body. The projecting annular wall may be considered to define a substantially cylindrical receptacle. It is preferable, where an open receptacle is provided as the holder that it conforms substantially to the profile of the cutter to be received thereby, although this need not be the case. Most preferably an inherent flexibility in the wall material and suitable dimensioning results in the cutter being retained in place by virtue of friction, i.e. by an interference fit. Of course, suitable retaining elements could be otherwise provided. In the case of cutters that are other than round, the wall profile of the receptacle would be amended accordingly. For example, were the cutter square, a square wall arrangement could be implemented. Whilst the receptacle is defined by a projecting wall 10, in alternative arrangements the receptacle could be provided in the form of a recess or indentation from a surface of the smoothing tool, or otherwise.

In dependence on the form of cutter to be received by the smoothing tool, there may be a guard 1 1 provided. The guard 1 1 is provided for restricting access to the blade of the cutting tool by a user during removal of the cutting tool from the holder. The guard 1 1 , which is a preferred feature of the present arrangement, comprises a post that extends from a base of the holder in a central region of the holder. The post is provided on a central axis of the holder (annular receptacle) 4. The interaction of the post and the cutting tool is discussed in greater detail below, when further consideration is given to the smoothing tool system.

As mentioned briefly above, it is preferable that the holder comprises a cover. Figures 4 and 8 show smoothing tools with covers 12 in place. The cover 12 preferably seals the holder (and thereby the cutting tool within the holder), as shown. In the present arrangement the cover takes the form of a cap, as seen most clearly in Figure 10. In alternative arrangements in dependence on the form of the holder, the cover could take different forms. The cover closes off the holder and prevents the ingress of dirt, materials or moisture into the holder. It further prevents dislodgement of a cutting tool that is received by the holder. The cover may comprise openings, as seen in Figure 4.

The cover in the present arrangement is substantially annular to match the form of the receptacle defining the holder. The side wall 10 of the receptacle may be suitably profiled for mating engagement with the cover, as shown, wherein the cover is kept in place by friction, i.e. by an interference fit. The fitment means need not be limited, however. Alternative fitment means could, for example, be provided in the form of a screw fitting, clips or catches, or otherwise. Moreover, whilst in the present arrangement, the cover is entirely detachable, in alternative arrangements, it may be fixed to the smoothing tool at all times. For example, it could be tethered or could be hinged. Where the cover is detachable, it has the benefit that it may provide further useful function to the smoothing tool. In the present arrangements, the covers are provided with integrated tools

13. The tool 13 in the present arrangement comprises a blade. The blade may be unitarily formed with the remainder of the cover or could be separately formed and joined thereto, in which case it may be formed from a different material to the remainder of the cover, such as metal. It is preferably unitarily formed and defines a plastic blade that is useful, for example, in removing existing cured flowable or semi-flowable material, such as a bead of sealant. Whilst its form is not particularly limited, in the present arrangement it is substantially wedge like in form with a pair of sloped faces 14 meeting to form a pointed tip of the blade.

As discussed above in the introductory portion of this specification, various flowable and semiflowable materials, particularly in the building trade are traditionally marketed in sealed cartridges. On such, exemplary, cartridge is shown in Figure 13. This takes the form of a cylindrical body 58 containing a displaceable piston 60 at one end and have a dispensing cap 62 at the opposite end with the material to be dispensed, such as a silicone based sealant, sandwiched in between. The cap 62 supports an outwardly projecting dispensing tube 64 which is externally screw threaded and sealed at its distal end. A dispensing nozzle 66 is provided to be screw threadedly mounted on the dispensing tube 64.

The nozzle 66 has a cylindrical end portion 68 with an internal screw thread adapted to screw threadedly engage the tube 64 of the cap 62 and a tapered portion 70 extending away from the cylindrical end portion 68 so that both internal and external diameters progressively reduce with distance from the cylindrical end portion 68. The distal end of the tapered portion may be open or sealed. To make the cartridge ready for use the end of the dispensing tube needs to be severed at right angles to its axis to release the material within the body 58. Also the tapered portion 70 of the nozzle 66 needs to be severed to provide the appropriate size of dispensing orifice from the nozzle. The nozzle is preferably severed along a plane included to the axis of the nozzle (such as indicated in broken lines in Figure 8) to provide a guide surface to guide the direction in which the material is dispensed.

The smoothing tool 1 discussed above is ideally suited for the purpose of smoothing out a continuous bead of material that has been dispensed from the cartridge through the nozzle. Moreover, the cutting tool that is received by/mounted on the smoothing tool 1 is ideally suited for the purpose of cutting the cartridge to permit the flow of material therefrom. An exemplary cutting tool 9, receivable by the smoothing tool and combining with the smoothing tool to define a smoothing tool system 100 as seen in Figure 2, is now described in detail along with its operation for cutting the cartridge of Figure 13.

The cutting tool 9 is shown in Figures 1 1 and 12 and comprises a cutting tool body 15 having a bore 16 extending along a predetermined axis through the body, a slot 17 extending from an external surface of the body to the bore in the general direction of a first plane containing said axis, a cutting blade 18 extending into said bore along a plane extending at right angles to said predetermined axis. The cutting tool body has a first portion 20 on one side of the slot which is generally rigid and inflexible and a second portion 21 on the other side of the slot which is resilient and flexible. The slot 17 tapers so that its width diminishes with distance from the external surface of the cutting tool body to the external circumference of said bore 16.

The cutting tool is generally cylindrical about said predetermined axis.

For cutting the dispensing tube 64 the dispensing tube is placed on the side wall 22 of the first portion 20 and displaced inwardly along the side, it will engage a nose 23 that is provided on an opposed side wall 24 of the second portion, and through flexure between the first and second portions, the nose 23 will be displaced away from the side wall 22 until the dispensing tube passes into the bore 16 at which point the nose 23 will snap back towards its relaxed state to hold the dispensing tube 64 captive in the bore 16.

When the dispensing tube 64 initially engages the bore 16, it initially engages the blade 18 and so is held from being fully accommodated in the bore 16. The nose 23 will at this point still be acting under the resilience of the first and second portions to urge the pipe against the blade 18. Any rotation of the tool relative to the dispensing tube 64 will cause the blade to progressively score the dispensing tube 64 under the pressure applied by the nose 23 until the blade has cut through the wall of dispensing tube whereupon the dispensing tube 64 is fully accommodated within the bore 16 but is severed into two parts.

The first portion further includes a circumferentially extending channel 25 sized to accommodate the nozzle 66, and includes a secondary blade 26

extending transversely of said channel so as to sever the nozzle 66 when it is inserted into the channel 25. A sliding guide member 27 is provided in the channel, which comprises an opening 28 therein for receiving the nozzle 66 to be severed, the sliding guide member 27 and the secondary cutting blade 26 lie parallel to one another and the blade 26 and the opening 28 overlap when the sliding guide member 27 is moved from an open position as shown in Figure 6 into a cutting position, by sliding the guide member 27 downward as viewed in Figure 6. With the nozzle inserted in the opening in the guide member, the downward sliding movement presses the nozzle against the blade 26 with the nozzle severed at a desired angle in the manner of a guillotine.

The present arrangements of the smoothing tool are such that when the cutting tool is received by the holder, the guard 1 1 projects into the bore 16. In arrangements where it is otherwise formed than by a post lying on the axis, it may enter the slot 17 and/or bore 16. In any of these arrangements it is effective in preventing a user's finger from engaging the blade 18 of the cutting tool, when the finger is hooked under an exposed top of the cutting tool 9 (as seen in Figures 3 and 7) to remove the cutting tool 9 from the holder 4. The user's finger will hit the guard 1 1 rather than the exposed blade.

Claims

1 . A smoothing tool for smoothing a flowable or semi-flowable material, the tool comprising a main body that comprises two, three or more tips, each of the tips having a different predetermined profile to be imparted to a material that is smoothed using the tool,

wherein each of the tips projects from the tool at an oblique angle.

2. A smoothing tool as claimed in Claim 1 , which further comprises an integrated holder for receiving a cutting tool.

3. A smoothing tool for smoothing a flowable or semi-flowable material, the tool comprising a main body that comprises two, three or more tips, each of the tips having a different predetermined profile to be imparted to a material that is smoothed using the tool; and

an integrated holder for receiving a cutting tool.

4. A smoothing tool as claimed in Claim 2 or 3, wherein the main body and holder are integrally formed.

5. A smoothing tool as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the main body and holder are unitarily formed from plastic.

6. A smoothing tool as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the main body comprises a base that comprises the tips.

7. A smoothing tool as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the base is substantially planar and each of the tips projects at an oblique angle to the plane of the base.

8. A smoothing tool as claimed in Claim 6 or 7, wherein the holder projects from or is formed in the base.

9. A smoothing tool as claimed in any of Claims 6 to 8, wherein the base comprises a first side from which the holder projects or in which the holder is formed and a second side which comprises a substantially planar surface.

10. A smoothing tool as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the smoothing tool is substantially polygonal in plan view.

1 1 . A smoothing tool as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the tool is substantially triangular in plan view.

12. A smoothing tool as claimed in Claim 10 or 1 1 , wherein one of the tips is provided at each of the vertices.

13. A smoothing tool as claimed in any of Claims 10 to 12, wherein each of the tips is provided between adjacent sides of the main body, and the sides are straight or curved.

14. A smoothing tool as claimed in Claim 13, wherein the sides are concavely curved.

15. A smoothing tool as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 4 or any claim dependent thereon, wherein the holder comprises an open receptacle.

16. A smoothing tool as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 4 or any claim dependent thereon comprising a guard that extends from a base of the holder in a central region of the holder.

17. A smoothing tool as claimed in Claim 16, wherein the guard comprises a post.

18. A smoothing tool as claimed in Claim 16 or 17, wherein the guard lies on a central axis of the holder.

19. A smoothing tool as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 5 or any claim dependent thereon, wherein the holder comprises a cover.

20. A smoothing tool as claimed in Claim 19, wherein the cover seals the holder.

21 . A smoothing tool as claimed in Claim 19 or 20, wherein the cover comprises an integrated blade.

22. A smoothing tool system comprising a smoothing tool, as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 5 or any claim dependent thereon, and a cutting tool receivable by the holder.

23. A smoothing tool system as claimed in Claim 22, wherein the cutting tool comprises a cutting tool body having a bore extending along a predetermined axis through the body, a slot extending from an external surface of the body to the bore in the general direction of a first plane containing said axis, a cutting blade extending into said bore along a plane extending at right angles to said

predetermined axis.

24. A smoothing tool system as claimed in Claim 23, wherein the cutting tool body has a first portion on one side of the slot which is generally rigid and inflexible and a second portion on the other side of the slot which is resilient and flexible.

25. A smoothing tool system as claimed in Claim 22 or 23, wherein the slot tapers so that its width diminishes with distance from the external surface of the cutting tool body to the external circumference of said bore.

26. A smoothing tool system as claimed in any of Claims 22 to 24, wherein said first portion includes a circumferentially extending channel sized to accommodate a nozzle to be severed, and including a secondary blade extending transversely of said channel so as to sever any nozzle inserted into the channel.

27. A smoothing tool system as claimed in Claim 26, wherein a sliding guide member is provided in the channel, which comprises an opening therein for receiving a nozzle to be severed, the sliding guide member and the secondary cutting blade lying parallel to one another and the blade and the opening overlapping when the sliding guide member is moved into a cutting position.

28. A smoothing tool system as claimed in any of Claims 23 to 27, wherein the cutting tool is generally cylindrical about said predetermined axis.

29. A smoothing tool system as claimed in any of Claims 23 to 28, wherein the holder has a profile that conforms substantially to a profile of the cutting tool.

30. A smoothing tool system as claimed in Claim 29, wherein the holder comprises a substantially annular or cylindrical receptacle.

31 . A smoothing tool system as claimed in any of Claims 23 to 30, wherein the cutting tool is retained in place by an interference fit between the holder and the cutting tool.

32. A smoothing tool system as claimed in any of Claims 23 to 31 , when dependent on Claims 16 to 18, wherein when the cutting tool is received by the holder, the guard projects into the slot and/or bore.

33. A smoothing tool system as claimed in Claim 32, wherein the guard lies on the predetermined axis or extends parallel thereto.

34. A smoothing tool system as claimed in any of Claims 23 to 33, when dependent on any of Claims 19 to 21 , wherein the cover seals the cutting tool within the holder.