Grouting machine

• US 5,449,406 A
• Filed: 10/24/1994
• Issued: 09/12/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Francis A. Presti Jr
• Original Assignee: Francis A. Presti Jr
• Inventors: Presti, Francis A. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, W. Gary
• Assistant Examiner(s): EDWARDS, LAURA ESTELLE
• Application Number:
  US08/328,162
• Time in Patent Office: 323 Days
• Field of Search: 118/244, 118/258, 118/264, 401/48, 404/407, 404/111, 404/112, 222/611.2, 222/548, 427/271, 427/277
• US Class Current: 118/264
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 21/248 used by an operator walking behind the trowel, i.e. walk-behind power trowels

Abstract

A machine for applying grout mortar to a tiled surface includes a rotatable, frustroconical shroud having a plurality of generally radially extending blades therein. Resilient foot pads positioned at the bottom edges of the shroud and the blades contact the tiled surface. Each of the blades preferably is curved so that its outer end precedes its inner end in the direction of rotation of the shroud. Each blade also is tilted so that the upper edge is ahead of the its lower edge in the direction of rotation of the shroud.

Claims

1. A grouting machine comprising a frustroconical shroud having upper and lower edges and a vertical axis, means disposed on said shroud for the controlled deposit of grout mortar to an interior of said shroud, means connected to said shroud for rotating said shroud about its axis, a plurality of generally radially extending upright blades positioned in said shroud, said blades having lower edges in substantially the same plane as the lower edge of said shroud, a circular resilient foot pad secured to the lower edge of the shroud, and a resilient foot pad secured lengthwise of the lower edge of each of said blades.

2. The grouting machine of claim 1, wherein said mortar deposit means includes funnel means positioned atop said shroud and a hopper positioned above the funnel means.

3. The grouting machine of claim 1, wherein each of said blades has inner and outer ends and is curved forward so that the outer end of the blade leads the inner end in the direction of rotation of the shroud.

4. The grouting machine of claim 3, wherein each of said blades has both upper and lower edges and is positioned in the shroud in a manner that the upper edge of the blade leads the lower edge of the blade in the direction of rotation of the shroud.

5. The grouting machine of claim 1, wherein each of said blades has both upper and lower edges and is positioned in the shroud in the manner that the upper edge of the blade leads the lower edge of the blade in the direction of rotation of the shroud.