Power trowel and method for applying finish compounds

• US 20090060627A1
• Filed: 08/28/2007
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bruce Whited, William Troy Stubbs
• Original Assignee: William Troy Stubbs
• Inventors: Stubbs, William Troy
• Granted Patent: US 8,360,672 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 401/266
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 21/08 Mechanical implements E04F21/14 takes precedence; spraying in general B05B; sand-blasting B24C

Abstract

A tool for applying finish compound to a structural member is disclosed. The tool includes a conduit, a handle and a finish-compound receiving member. The conduit may include a single discharge hose or may include a plurality of discharge hoses. The handle may include a first support and a second support acting as a grip for a user to grasp the tool. The handle may further include at least one hole formed in the handle to receive the conduit. The finish-compound receiving member may include a finish-compound receiving surface having at least one opening formed therein. The conduit leads from a pump that is in communication with a reservoir of finish compound to the at least one hole in the handle. The handle also includes a hollow interior, such that finish compound is pumped through the conduit into the hollow interior. The hollow interior communicates with the at least one opening formed in the finish-compound receiving surface for dispensing finish compound to the finish-compound receiving surface for application.

Claims

1. A tool for applying finish compound comprising:

a conduit that is attachable to a pump that is in communication with a reservoir of finish compound;

a handle having at least one hole formed therein for receiving the conduit, wherein the at least one hole leads to a hollow interior of said handle;

a finish-compound receiving member that is attachable to said handle comprising a finish-compound receiving surface having at least one opening formed therethrough for dispensing finish compound from the hollow interior of said handle to the finish-compound receiving surface, wherein finish compound is pumped from the reservoir through said conduit into said hollow interior of said handle and through the at least one opening to said finish-compound receiving surface.

2. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 1, wherein the finish-compound receiving surface is a substantially flat trowel surface and wherein a length of the finish-compound receiving surface is at least two times a width of said finish-compound receiving surface.

3. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 1, wherein the at least one hole formed in the handle comprises three holes and wherein a conduit is disposed in fluidic communication with each of said three holes.

4. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 3, wherein the conduit is flexible and further comprises a central hose that is attached to an attachment piece that is disposable into fluidic communication with the pump, and three discharge hoses that disseminate from and are disposed in fluidic communication with the central hose, each discharge hose being disposable into fluidic communication with one of the holes formed in the handle.

5. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 3, wherein the conduit is flexible and comprises three discharge hoses that are attached to the attachment piece.

6. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 1, wherein finish compound is accumulated in the hollow interior of the handle and is gradually dispensed through the at least one opening of the finish-compound receiving surface.

7. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 1, wherein the handle comprises an elongated base and wherein the elongated base comprises the at least one hole formed in said handle.

8. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 1, wherein the attachment piece is a hose coupler coupling the conduit to a hose of the pump.

9. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 1, wherein the handle comprises a base and a grip for a user to grasp the handle, wherein the grip is substantially parallel to the base and the finish-compound receiving surface.

10. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 1, wherein the at least one opening in the finish-compound receiving surface comprises a plurality of openings for dispensing finish compound from the hollow interior of the handle to the finish-compound receiving surface.

11. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 10, wherein the plurality of openings are substantially aligned in a linear manner.

12. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 11, wherein the plurality of openings are linearly aligned along a central, longitudinal axis.

13. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 12, wherein the plurality of openings are further aligned linearly along an axis perpendicular to the central, longitudinal axis.

14. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 10, wherein the plurality of openings are irregularly formed in the finish-compound receiving surface.

15. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 10, wherein the plurality of openings are formed in a pattern within the finish-compound receiving surface.

16. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 1, wherein the finish-compound receiving member further comprises a substantially hollow body.

17. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 16, wherein the substantially hollow body of the finish-compound receiving member is disposed in fluidic communication with the hollow interior of the handle and is thereby made a part of a movement path of the finish compound as said finish compound is conveyed from the conduit through the handle and through the finish-compound receiving member and through the at least one opening in the finish-compound receiving surface.

79. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 1, wherein the handle further comprises a base, a first support extending from the base and a second support extending from the first support and terminating in a free end, wherein the at least one hole formed in the handle is formed in the second support.

80. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 79, wherein the first support and second support are substantially hollow and the second support extends laterally from the first support.

81. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 1, wherein the handle further comprises a base having a side surface, wherein the at least one hole formed in the handle is formed in the side surface of said base.

82. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 1, wherein the finish-compound receiving member comprises a substantially hollow interior that communicates directly with the substantially hollow interior of the handle and is thereby made a part of a movement path of the finish compound as said finish compound is conveyed from the conduit through the handle and through the finish-compound receiving member and through the at least one opening in the finish-compound receiving surface.

83. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 1, wherein the tool further comprises a toggle switch for actuating the pump.

84. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 1, wherein the handle comprises a trigger and a valve, such that when the trigger is actuated the valve opens thereby allowing finish compound to flow freely through said handle.

85. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 1, wherein the tool further comprises a toggle switch for actuating the pump;

wherein the handle comprises a trigger, a valve, at least one support and an opening formed in a free end of the support;

wherein the valve is located inside the at least one support of the handle and is actuated by the trigger, such that when the toggle switch is actuated, the pump dispenses finish compound from the reservoir to the conduit and into the support where the free flow of finish compound is controlled by the valve and the trigger.

86. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 1, wherein the finish-compound receiving member comprises a plurality of finish-compound receiving members that are interchangeable with each other.

87. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 86, wherein the at least one opening in the finish compound receiving surface comprises a plurality of openings for dispensing finish compound from the hollow interior of the handle to the finish-compound receiving surface.

88. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 87, wherein the plurality of openings in each of the plurality of finish-compound receiving members are sized differently to allow different finish compounds to be easily applied to a structural member.

92. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 1, wherein the finish-compound receiving member has a density within a range of 0.07 pci to 0.19 pci.

93. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 92, wherein the finish-compound receiving member has a density within a range of 0.10 pci to 0.16 pci.

94. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 92, wherein the finish-compound receiving member has a density of approximately 0.13 pci.

18. A tool for applying finish compound comprising:

a handle and a finish-compound receiving surface;

a means for supplying finish compound to the handle of the tool; and

a means for conveying finish compound from the handle to the finish-compound receiving surface of the tool for application to a structural member.

19. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 18, wherein the means for handle base from the handle to the finish-compound receiving surface comprises a base formed as part of the handle and at least one hole formed in the base, wherein the means for supplying finish compound to the handle comprises a pump and a flexible conduit attaching the pump to the at least one hole of the base.

20. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 19, wherein the handle further comprises a grip for a user to grasp said handle, wherein the grip is substantially parallel to the base and to the finish-compound receiving surface, wherein the means for handle base from the handle to the finish-compound receiving surface further comprises three holes formed in the base, and wherein the means for supplying finish compound to the handle further comprises three hoses that disseminate from the conduit and attach to each of the three holes formed in the base.

21. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 18, wherein the means for handle base from the handle to the finish-compound receiving surface comprises a hollow interior formed within the handle.

22. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 21, wherein the means for handle base from the handle to the finish-compound receiving surface further comprises at least one opening formed in the finish-compound receiving surface, wherein the hollow interior of the handle directly communicates with the at least one opening in the finish-compound receiving surface thereby dispensing finish compound.

23. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 22, wherein the at least one opening in the finish-compound receiving surface comprises a plurality of openings for dispensing finish compound from the hollow interior of the handle to the finish-compound receiving surface.

24. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 23, wherein the plurality of openings are substantially aligned in a linear manner.

25. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 24, wherein the plurality of openings are linearly aligned along a central, longitudinal axis.

26. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 25, wherein the plurality of openings are further aligned linearly along an axis perpendicular to the central, longitudinal axis.

27. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 23, wherein the plurality of openings are irregularly formed in the finish-compound receiving surface.

28. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 23, wherein the plurality of openings are formed in a pattern within the finish-compound receiving surface.

29. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 22, wherein the at least one opening in the finish-compound receiving surface is a single elongated slot for dispensing finish compound from the hollow interior of the handle to the finish-compound receiving surface.

30. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 18, wherein the means for handle base from the handle to the finish-compound receiving surface comprises a base formed as part of the handle and three holes formed in the base, wherein the means for supplying finish compound to the handle comprises a pump and a flexible conduit having three hoses attachable to the pump and to the three holes of the base.

31. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 30, wherein the means for handle base from the handle to the finish-compound receiving surface comprises a hollow interior formed within the base of the handle.

32. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 31, wherein the means for handle base from the handle to the finish-compound receiving surface further comprises at least one opening formed in the finish-compound receiving surface, wherein the hollow interior of the base of the handle directly communicates with the at least one opening in the finish-compound receiving surface thereby dispensing finish compound.

33. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 19, wherein the means for handle base from the handle to the finish-compound receiving surface comprises a hollow interior formed within the handle.

34. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 33, wherein the means for handle base from the handle to the finish-compound receiving surface further comprises at least one opening formed in the finish-compound receiving surface, wherein the hollow interior of the handle directly communicates with the at least one opening in the finish-compound receiving surface thereby dispensing finish compound.

35. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 34, wherein the at least one opening in the finish-compound receiving surface comprises a plurality of openings for dispensing finish compound from the hollow interior of the handle to the finish-compound receiving surface.

36. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 35, wherein the plurality of openings are substantially aligned in a linear manner.

37. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 35, wherein the plurality of openings are irregularly formed in the finish-compound receiving surface.

38. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 35, wherein the plurality of openings are formed in a pattern within the finish-compound receiving surface.

39. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 34, wherein the at least one opening in the finish-compound receiving surface is a single elongated slot for dispensing finish compound from the hollow interior of the handle to the finish-compound receiving surface.

40. A tool for applying finish compound comprising:

a plurality of ducts forming a conduit that is attachable to or disposable into fluidic communication with a pump and a reservoir of finish compound;

a handle comprising a base having a plurality of holes formed therein that communicate with a hollow interior of the handle;

a finish-compound receiving member that is attachable to said handle comprising a finish-compound receiving surface with at least one opening formed therethrough for dispensing finish compound from the hollow interior of said handle to the finish-compound receiving surface for application to a structural member.

41. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 40, wherein finish compound is pumped from the reservoir through said plurality of ducts into said hollow interior of said handle and through the at least one opening to said finish-compound receiving surface.

42. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 40, wherein the finish-compound receiving surface is a substantially flat trowel surface where a length of the finish-compound receiving surface is at least two times a width of said finish-compound receiving surface.

43. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 40, wherein the plurality of holes formed in the handle comprises three holes.

44. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 43, wherein the plurality of ducts forming the conduit comprises three flexible discharge hoses that are each attachable to one of the three holes formed in the handle.

45. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 40, wherein finish compound is accumulated in the hollow interior of the handle and is gradually dispensed through the at least one opening of the finish-compound receiving surface.

46. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 40, wherein the base of the handle is elongated and the handle further comprises a grip for a user to grasp the handle, wherein the grip is substantially parallel to the base and the finish-compound receiving surface.

47. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 40, wherein the at least one opening in the finish-compound receiving surface comprises a plurality of openings for dispensing finish compound from the hollow interior of the handle to the finish-compound receiving surface.

48. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 47, wherein the plurality of openings are substantially aligned in a linear manner.

49. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 48, wherein the plurality of openings are linearly aligned along a central, longitudinal axis.

50. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 49, wherein the plurality of openings are further aligned linearly along an axis perpendicular to the central, longitudinal axis.

51. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 47, wherein the plurality of openings are irregularly formed in the finish-compound receiving surface.

52. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 47, wherein the plurality of openings are formed in a pattern within the finish-compound receiving surface.

53. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 40, wherein the at least one opening in the finish-compound receiving surface is a single elongated slot for dispensing finish compound from the hollow interior of the handle to the finish-compound receiving surface.

54. A tool for applying finish compound comprising:

a flexible conduit that is attachable to a pump that is in communication with a reservoir of finish compound;

a handle comprising a base having at least one hole formed therein, wherein the conduit is attachable to the at least one hole of the base thereby supplying finish compound from the conduit to the handle; and

a finish-compound receiving member that is attachable to the handle comprising a finish-compound receiving surface having at least one opening formed therethrough for dispensing finish compound from the handle to the finish-compound receiving surface;

wherein the handle further comprises a first support extending from the base and a second support extending laterally from the first support and terminating in a free end.

55. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 54, wherein the at least one hole leads to a hollow interior of said handle and wherein the second support of the handle is substantially parallel to the base and the finish-compound receiving surface.

56. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 55, wherein finish compound is pumped from the reservoir through said conduit into said hollow interior of said handle and through the at least one opening to said finish-compound receiving surface.

57. A tool for applying finish compound, said tool comprising:

a finish-compound receiving member comprising a finish-compound receiving surface for applying finish compound to a structural member, and an upper surface on a side of said finish-compound receiving member that is opposite said finish-compound receiving surface;

a receptacle for receiving finish compound, said receptacle contacting said upper surface of said finish-compound receiving member; and

a conduit for supplying finish compound to said receptacle;

wherein finish compound is pumped through said conduit to said receptacle and to said finish-compound receiving surface for applying the finish compound to the structural member.

58. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 57, wherein the receptacle comprises an area that is about three percent to about ninety-five percent of an area of the upper surface of the finish-compound receiving member.

59. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 58, wherein the area of the receptacle is about ten percent to about thirty-five percent of the area of the finish-compound receiving member.

60. A method of supplying a tool with finish compound comprising the steps of:

(a) pumping finish compound from a reservoir through a conduit into at least one hole formed in a handle of the tool;

(b) receiving finish compound into a hollow interior of the handle through communication with the at least hole of the handle; and

(c) dispensing finish compound from the hollow interior of the handle to a finish-compound receiving surface of the tool through at least one opening formed through the finish-compound receiving surface, such that finish compound flows from the hollow interior to said finish-compound receiving surface for applying finish compound to a structural member.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein the handle comprises a base comprising the at least one hole and a grip for a user to grasp said handle, wherein the grip is substantially parallel to the base and to the finish-compound receiving surface.

62. The method of claim 60, wherein the conduit of step (a) is flexible and comprises a single discharge hose that is attached to a single hole formed in the handle.

63. The method of claim 60, wherein the conduit of step (a) is flexible and comprises a plurality of discharge hoses that are attached to a plurality of holes formed in the handle.

64. The method of claim 60, wherein the finish-compound receiving surface comprises a plurality of openings communicating with the hollow interior of the handle, such that finish compound flows from the hollow interior of the handle through the plurality of openings to the finish-compound receiving surface.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein the plurality of openings are formed in a pattern.

66. The method of claim 64, wherein the plurality of openings are formed in a linear manner.

67. The method of claim 66, wherein the openings are linearly aligned along a central, longitudinal axis.

68. The method of claim 67, wherein the openings are further aligned linearly along an axis perpendicular to the central, longitudinal axis.

69. The method of claim 64, wherein the plurality of openings are formed irregularly.

70. The method of claim 60, wherein the at least one opening is a slot formed in the finish-compound receiving surface for communicating with the hollow interior of the handle, such that finish compound flows from the hollow interior of the handle through the slot to the finish-compound receiving surface.

71. A tool for applying finish compound comprising:

a flexible conduit comprising an attachment piece that is attachable to a pump in communication with a reservoir of finish compound;

a handle having at least one hole formed therein for receiving the conduit, wherein the at least one hole leads to a hollow interior of said handle;

a finish-compound receiving member that is attachable to said handle comprising a finish-compound receiving surface having at least one opening formed therethrough for dispensing finish compound from the hollow interior of said handle to the finish-compound receiving surface, wherein finish compound is pumped from the reservoir through said conduit into said hollow interior of said handle and through the at least one opening to said finish-compound receiving surface;

wherein the finish-compound receiving surface is a substantially flat trowel surface where a length of the finish-compound receiving surface is at least two times a width of said finish-compound receiving surface;

wherein the conduit comprises a central hose that is attached to the attachment piece and three discharge hoses that disseminate from the central hose and that are attachable to the at least one hole formed in the handle;

wherein finish compound is accumulated in the hollow interior of the handle and is gradually dispensed through the at least one opening of the finish-compound receiving surface;

wherein the handle comprises an elongated base and wherein the elongated base comprises the at least one hole formed in said handle;

wherein the handle comprises a base and a grip for a user to grasp the handle, wherein the grip is substantially parallel to the base and the finish-compound receiving surface; and

wherein the attachment piece is a hose coupler coupling the conduit to a hose of the pump.

72. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 71, wherein the at least one opening in the finish-compound receiving surface comprises a plurality of openings for dispensing finish compound from the hollow interior of the handle to the finish-compound receiving surface.

73. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 72, wherein the plurality of openings are substantially aligned in a linear manner.

74. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 73, wherein the plurality of openings are linearly aligned along a central, longitudinal axis.

75. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 74, wherein the plurality of openings are further aligned linearly along an axis perpendicular to the central, longitudinal axis.

76. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 72, wherein the plurality of openings are irregularly formed in the finish-compound receiving surface.

77. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 72, wherein the plurality of openings are formed in a pattern within the finish-compound receiving surface.

78. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 71, wherein the at least one opening is a slot formed in the finish-compound receiving surface for communicating with the hollow interior of the handle, such that finish compound flows from the hollow interior of the handle through the slot to the finish-compound receiving surface.

89. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 71, wherein the finish-compound receiving member has a density within a range of 0.07 pci to 0.19 pci.

90. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 89, wherein the finish-compound receiving member has a density within a range of 0.10 pci to 0.16 pci.

91. The tool for applying finish compound of claim 89, wherein the finish-compound receiving member has a density of approximately 0.13 pci.