Patent ID: 8024835
Filing Date: 2011-09-27
Classification: A47J,B05C

Abstract:
1. A method for making a unitary one-piece treatment tool operative for spreading of a substance on a surface of an object which is selected from a group including objects that are brittle, fragile, frangible, and easily broken, the method comprising: providing a retention portion having a handle with a handle length spanning from a handle root to a handle end, a handle height delimited by a handle back and a handle bottom, and a handle longitudinal axis which extends along the handle length, the handle being made from a rigid polymeric first material; providing a treatment portion having a blade with a blade length spanning between a blade tip and a blade root, a blade width delimited by a blade back and a blade edge, and a blade longitudinal axis which extends along the blade length, the blade being made from a soft and bendable polymeric second material and being resiliently flexible; providing a backbone having a backbone length and a backbone longitudinal axis extending along the backbone length, the backbone extending outwardly away from the handle root and being made from said rigid polymeric first material; supporting the blade length with the blade back in fixed connection to and along the backbone length; and configuring the blade for controlled deflection about the backbone by selecting blade deflection parameters such that when a force is applied to the treatment tool in the direction of the object to treat and spread the substance on the surface of the object, the blade is controllably deflected to limit forces transmitted from the treatment tool to the surface of the object that exceed a predetermined limit; wherein: the handle and the blade of the treatment tool are fabricated in a one-piece integral construction which is manufactured in a single-step operation by one production process; the handle back and the handle bottom of said treatment tool define a first plane; the blade back and the blade edge of said treatment tool define a second plane; and the second plane is disposed to form a selected first angle relative to the first plane, where the first angle is a twist angle selected to suit treatment needs.