US2526401A - Plasterer's trowel - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 17, 1950 H, OSCAR 2,526,401

PLASTERRS TRowEL Filed Jan. 16, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lsnventor aZ/arry scar Patented Oct. 17, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PLASTERERS 'TROWEL Harry Oscar, New York, N. Y.

Application January 16, 1947, Serial No. 722,408

(Cl. Y2- 136) 4 Claims.

1 This invention relates to plasterers trowels an more particularly to trowels which are to be used to form smooth plaster guide strips immediately adjacent to door, Window or other openings.

In forming a plaster guide strip immediately adjacent a door or window opening, the conventional plasterers trowel does notA normally per- 'mit the achievement of a true level surface relal tive to the trim member of the door or Window frame. Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved plasterers trowel which is adapted to be used in a manner whichY will insure a level plaster surface or guide strip immediately adjacent the trim of a door or Window opening and the like.

Another objectof this invention is to provide a trowel of the character described vwhich is adapted to slidably move withrrespect to a fixed surface, such as the trim member of a door frame, window frame or the likel and to simultaneously .form the plaster adjacent the fixed surface into a smooth, plane guide surface.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a trowel of the character described, contoured guide plans which is complementary to a fixed surface such as the molded trim member of a door or window frame and the like, wherein the guide means is adapted to move slidably with respect to the fixed surface and to simultaneously clean the surface of the trim member over which it moves.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide in a trowel of the character described, a guidemember adapted to move over the trim member of a door or window opening and the like, the said guide member having a smoothmember removably attached thereto and including: interchangeable means for determining the smoothing level of the smoothing member with respect to the guide portions of the trowel.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide in: a trowel of the character described, a smoothing member adapted to produce a level plaster surfacey or ground, immediately adjacent a trim member of'. a door, Window frame or thev like, wherein a portion of the smoothing fmember is slida-bly engageablewith at least a portion of the said trim member during the smoothing operation, thereby acting as a guide for the smoothing member.

Yeta further' object of thisv invention is-to provde ina trowelcf the character described, a smoothing/member having removably attached theretoA aV guide member which. is adapted to'slidably.VVV engage an enlongated member whichA includes a level element.4 More'. particularly, the

elongated member is adapted to be secured `at either end thereof over a wall surface .in a manner to insure that the smoothing member produces a plane, .level plaster surface or ground adjacent the elongated member. f

vStill a further object of this invention li5 to provide a strong, durable, compact, device of the character described,- `which shall be relatively inexpensive to .manufacture easy to manipulate, andyet practical and efcient to a high degree in use. Y

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations Aof elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplied in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the .followingclaima In the accompanying drawing, in .which is shown various possible illustrative embodiments of this invention;

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of the plasterers trowel showing the component parts thereof in disassembled form;

- Fig. 2.is .avv perspective View of the ,plasterers trowel, shown in Fig. l, in assembled. form;

Fig. 3 Vis a perspective view of 'aplasterers trowelembodying the invention and illustrating a modied form of the invention;

Fig. Llis an enlarged cross section-al view of the plasterers trowel shown in Fig..l 3;

Fig. 5 isa perspective view of the plasterers trowel embodying the invention, in use;

Fig. 6 is ar perspective view of a plasterers trowel embodying the invention and illustrating amodicd form of the invention;

Fig.- '7 is a detailed cross sectional view of the guide and blade portion of the trowel shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 isfaperspective view showing the under surface of. thev guide and blade .portion of the trowel. showninFig. 6;

Fig.. 9 is a front view showing thel plasterers trowelet Fig. 6-, muse; and

Fig. l0 isa detailed cross sectional view of a plastcrers; trowel embodying. the invention and illustrating aA still. further modified form of the in-l vention. f

Referring now in. detail to the drawing, 1 0 designa-tes aV plasterers trowel embodying the 1nvention. rEhe trowel I0 comprises a guide member f l-I'` made of. metal or the like,` a. smoothing mem-Y frame or the like.

struction.

l and 'the like.

end portions thereof. Extending from the flange I4 and at an angle thereto is a narrow wall I6 coextensive in length with the ilange. To a mid portion of the wall I6 is secured a handle I'I. The handle II includes a base portion I3 which may be Welded or otherwise secured to the wall I6. A handle fmember I9, extending in spaced, parallel yrelationship to the base portion I8, is interconnected thereto at one end by a member 20.

Extending outwardly and downwardly from the wall I6 is a guide portion 2| which is of suitably contoured cross section. The guide portion 2| is coextensive in length with the wall I6. The specific cross section of the guide portion 2l of the guide member II is complementary to the molded trim member-of a door frame, window 'Ihe cross section shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is typical of but a single type of a door buck. It is apparent that the contoured guide portion 2l may be formed to suit any of the door or window frame trims conventionally used.

The smoothing or trowel member I 2 comprises a rectangular block of wood or the like material, having a length substantially euual to the length of the flange I4 and having vertical edge surfaces 22, 22a equal in thickness to the height of the flange I4. The block I2 is formed with a pair of through openings 23 which extend from edge 22a to edge 22. The block I2 is removably secured I2 and screw into the threaded openings I5 in .the flange v I4. It will be apparent from a consideration of Fig. 2 that the through openings 23 are located between the flat surfaces of the, block I2 so that when the block is secured to the member I I', the lower at surface of the block is coextensive with the lower edge of the flange I4.

It is desirable to form plaster guide strips having a predetermined level with respect to the,-`

.edge ,portions of the Aadjacent door or windowl trim. Accordingly, there is provided means for tend from the edge 22a to the edge 22 of the Yblock and which are closer to one surface of the block than the other. Further sets of openings may be formed in the block at other selected locations whereby a different adjustment mayY K be made to provide the desired level relationship between the smoothing member and the guide member.

In Fig. V3l there is shown a trowel embodying the invention and 'illustrating a modied con- The trowel Ia comprises a guide member 30 and a trowel blade or smoothing member 3I detachably secured thereto. The

guide member 30 comprises a planar edge portion 'y 3 2 from which extends a contoured portion 33 coextensive in length with the edge portion 32.

YThe contoured portion 33 includes arcuate and other molded sections corresponding to the molded trim portions of door bucks, window frames It is understood that the guide member 30 may be provided in various molded forms to complement any one of the molded trims conventional in the door and window frame art. Ihe planar edge portion 3.2 ofthe guide member `1s formed with openings 34vat either end thereof for the purpose hereinafter described.

The trowel blade or smoothing member 3l @Qmprises a substantially rectangular sheet of relatively thin metal orthe like 35. A planar edge portion 36 is interconnected to the sheet 35 by a wall or flange 31 which extends at right angles to edge portion 36 and sheet 35. The sheet 35 and the edge portion 36 are in offset, parallel relationship to each other. The edge portion 36 of the blade 3| is formed with through openings 38 at either end thereof. A handle 39 is secured in any suitable manner to the edge portion 36 of the blade in spaced relationship thereto through a member 40, as shown in Fig. 3.

The trowel blade or smoothing member 3l is detachably secured to the guide member 30 by means of flat headed screws 4I passing through the openings 34 in the edge portion 32 of the guide member and the aligned openings 38 in the edge portion 36 of the blade member 3| and secured by nuts 42. It is often desirable to regulate the level of the plaster adjacent the door or window trim with respect to the edge of the trim. Accordingly, means is provided to permit the trowel to smooth the plaster to any desired level with respect to the trim adjacent thereto. To this end, removable shim elements 43 formed with through openings 44 are provided. The shim elements 43, which are in selected thicknesses, have a length and width substantially equivalent to the corresponding dimension of the edge portion 36 of the smoothing member 3I and edge portion 32 of the guide member 30u By interposing shim elements of the proper thickness or combination of thicknesses between the superposed portions of the guide and smoothing members with the screws 4I passing through the openings 44 in the shimv elements which are aligned with openings 34 and 38, as shown in Fig. 4, the relationship of the blade 35' with respect to the guide member 33 is established. This in turn permits the determination of the level of the surface of the plaster strip adjacent the door or window frame when the trowel is used as shown in Fig. 5. Since the shims 43 are of the same width as the edge portion 32 and the edge portion 36,'the flange 3'! has contacting engagement with the side edges of the shims as well vas the edge of the guide and this causes the guide and the blade to be effectively braced against tilting movement relative to each other.

In using the trowel shown in Figs. 3 and 4 it Vis only necessary to select the propershims 43,

assemble the guide member and the blade member with the interposed shims and secure the assembled parts by means of the screws 4I and nuts 42. The guide member 30 is selected to complement the particular molded trim surface upon which the trowel is to operate.

Frequently, the trim of the window or door frames becomes encrusted with plaster or other foreign matter. In using the trowels embodying the invention herein, the guide members act as a cleaning means as the guide member moves over the surface of the trim. The leading edge of the guide member is effective in removing plaster and the like which may be ladherent to the surface of the door buck, window trim or the like.

In Fig. 6 there is shown a trowel embodying the invention and showing a further modification of the invention. The trowel IIlb is adapted to be used for forming plaster guide strips on wall or ceiling surfaces. The strips are relatively narrow in width and are arranged at suitably spaced distances along'the lwall or ceiling. When the grQlmd Strips are formed, the spaces previously tformed.n 'The .trowel .lb cpml-hebombineditrowe'blade andguide is mounted f slidable'movement on` an elongated member "52; '.The guide' memberv 50 .bomp'risesa substan- Vtially"rectangular sheet'oLmetal orthe like 5 3 'h a'vin'gVl downwardly extending flange portions 55 along the'sides thereof. "Eac'h of the flange p ortionsa-'542has" 'anfin'wa'rdly' extending edge portion 55fothe' purpo'se hereinafter described.. A

'h'andle 56'v is `secured to a ."mid portion of the gide 5l'. r"lhe.handle .56 Acomprises a base por- 'sebur'd tol the shee't53 .o'f-v the guide mmbel A handle member 58 extends in spaced, parallel relatinshiprtbfthe base portion 51 and is interconnected at one end thereto by a member 59. The sheet 53 of the guide member is formed along needge thereof adjacent the flange 5,4, with `in afnewpositionsuitably spaced fromoriginal openings 60, for the purpose hereinafter described. y

The smoothing blade 5I comprises a substantially'rectangular portion of sheet metal or the like ,6I having a slightlSr downwardly curved side ed'gefpdrtijon ss.- From me eppsite sdef the I rectangular portion 6| there extends downwardly a flange S4. Extending upwardly from the lower' edge of the flange 64, is a wall 65 from the upper edge of which extends outwardly a wall or edge portion 66. The wall 56 extends in parallel relationship to the rectangular portion 6I of the smoothing member. The forward and rearward ends of the rectangular portion 6I have upwardly curved edge portions 61. The wall B5 is formed with through openings 68 for the purpose hereinafter described. y

The guide 50 and the blade 5| are detachably secured together by means of nat head screws 59 which pass through the aligned openings 6E) and 68 in the guide and blade members respectively, and engage nuts 10. The level of the blade 52 with respect to the guide 50 may be adjusted by the use of shim elements 69a formed with openings 69h therein, interposed between the edge of the guide member and the wall 65 of the blade 5I and the side edges of the shims are engaged by the flange of the blade to brace the blade in the manner previously described.

The elongated member 52 is substantially rectangular in shape and may be made of wood, metal or the like. The member 52 is formed along its opposed edge portions with grooves 1|. The guide member 50 is adapted to slidably move on the member 52 with the inturned edge portions 55 of the guide engaging the grooves 1I of the member 52. The member 52 further -includes level elements of the spirit bubble type or the like 12, mounted on appropriate portions of the member as shown in Fig. 6, for the purpose hereinafter described.

In using the trowel IDb, the member 52 is temporarily secured to a wall surface by means of fastening elements such as nails, screws and the like in a vertical position as shown in Fig. 9. The level bubble 12 on the member 52 is used to properly level the member with respect to the Wall surface. The guide 5l) together with the smoothing blade El slidably moves on member 52, thereby forming a level plaster guide strip immediately adjacent the member 52. The member 52 is then detached from its position on the wall and is secured to the wall surface pyositionjanvzl the operation is Vrepeated?frllfheri a number of guide 4stripshave .been rthus formed,

'plasteris applied to :the wall rsurface on portions intermediate the guide vstrips .andlis `suitably leveled using tthelguidestrips*inconjunction with a leveling tool or` straight edge. It is to be noted thatthe'blade .6| `will form aplasterguidestrip lhaving one edge for-medwith `a slightly ,rounded corner due to'tle curved edge 63 of lthe'. blade l6l'. This facilitates Athe bonding of thezinter# mediate portions of plaster with .the guidestrips fd'rme'd by the Juse of trow'el'lilb. The lupwardly turned portions l6-1 on the `blade 6I facilitates the sliding'inovement of the blade over the plaster particularly when lumpy spots of plaster areencountered. Y rllhfi'i'it is desired to apply plasterguidestrips to 'the rnr pirtio'ns of'a room; trowel I0c' may be he'gude 5,0 Withthe shimsff'issimil nin Fig. "7. and .is detachably se- ,v ed toaspccial trowel blade jasshown inF-ig. lQ. blade comprises planar snfooth'ingportinnws'l, H'wliiclf'are at rightv angles-to each other. wallorlflange exte'nds upwardly-from smoothing portion 8 l "anda wall 84 extends downvvardly and inwardly from smoothing portion'82. An e' n" i d `e" portion7850 extends'routwardly from flange to fo'rn astrl portion which is'fOrmed with "openings `s'a""`t e'eive belts, wereby'fathe trowel blade may be detachably secured to the guide 5!) with the flange 83 bearing against the guide and shims interposed between the guide and the edge portion v35. End walls '81 interconnect the planar smoothing portions 8|, 82 and the walls 83, '84. In using this type of trowel blade, the member 52 is secured to the wall surface adjacent the corner to be plastered. The movement of trowel 4blade 80 and the guide 50 permits plaster to be smoothly applied on the two wall surfaces defining the corner and to thereby simultaneously produce guide strips on the intersecting wall surfaces. The end walls 81 on the blade 8l] prevent plaster from getting into the hollow portions of the trowel blade.

It is understood that the trowels 10b and Ic may be used on ceiling surfaces as well as on wall surfaces.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a device of the character described, a guide member, a smoothing member having an edge portion thereof disposed in superposed relation with respect to the adjacent edge portion of the guide member, means for detachably securing the superposed edge portions together, and shim members interposed between the aforesaid superposed edge portions, whereby the level of the smoothing surface ofsaid smoothing member may be adjusted relative to said guide member.

2. In a device of the character described, -comprising a guide member having a contoured surface adapted to cooperate with the corresponding ''p"o '"rtio`nffoithe trim'of a door'or Window frame, f a' planarls'urface portion Yextending from said contoured'surface, aV smoothing, member comprisinga blade portion and an edge portion, said edge portion andsaid blade portion being in offset and parallel relationshipto eachother, the edge por- ?tion. of said smoothing member and the,v planar surface portion'of, said guide member being in superposed relation. and detachably secured *to- Ygether; and shim members lying between the -superposed portions; whereby the level of the smoothing surface of Vsaid smoothing vmember may be adjusted relative to said guide member.

3. A plasterers trowel comprising a member provided with a flat flange, an irregular shaped .portion extending from one side of said flat ange, a second member comprising a flat flange superimposed with respect to said rst fiat ange fand-having a shoulder extending at right angles to said flanges, and a flat portion extending at right angles to said shoulder and parallel to said lflanges, means to attach said flanges together Yand a handle fixed to said anges, the meansI for fattaching said flanges together comprising fasthreaded openings spaced from each other longiengaged by said flange.

tudinally' thereof, av smoothing blade extending longitudinally of said guide and projecting laterally from the innerside edge'thereof, said blade having an innerside edge portion overlapping the innerside edge portion of the guide and being formed'with a flange bearing against the innerside edge of the guide, the innerside edge portion of said blade being formed with openings aligned with the threaded openings of the guide, screws passing through the openings of the blade and engaged in the threadedopenings ofthe guide and servingto firmly hold the blade and the guide Vdetachably connected with each other, and shim's disposed between the overlapped portions of the guide and the smoothing blade Vand holding the blade in predetermined relation to the plane of the guide and having outerside edges HARRY' OSCAR.

REFERENCES CITED I The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTs Y Number Name Y Date 1,744,097 Baker et al. Jan. 2'1, 1930 2,179,563 Sassano Nov. 14, 1939 2,222,877 Neal Nov. 26, 1940

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