Patent Publication Number: US-6662521-B1

Title: Multipurpose drywall tool

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to hand tools, in particular to a multipurpose drywall tool for use in connection with working drywall. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
     In the operation and erection of various drywall slabs in a construction site, a wide variety of tools are frequently required, such as, a scraping blade for scraping and smoothing putty; a screwdriver for adjusting protruding screws; a hammer for pounding down protruding nails; a flashlight for diagnosing the smoothness of a surface; and a horn for drawing the attention of nearby workers while suspended on various scaffolding. A variety of tools have been devised for use in working drywall. All such prior drywall tools have significant shortcomings. For example, the combination putty-knives and screw drivers disclosed by Bartlett in U.S. Pat. No. 180,187; the drywall tool disclosed by Marra in U.S. Pat. No. 5,063,627; the drywall knife having a screwdriver bit and dimple forming projection disclosed by Chacon in U.S. Pat. No. 5,720,063; the utility tool disclosed by Papadopoulos in U.S. Pat. No. 5,870,786; the trowell and screwdriver combination handtool disclosed by Anderson and Cassutti in U.S. Pat. No. 6,131,222; and the combination putty knife and screwdriver disclosed by Lehmann in U.S. Pat. No. D380,661. 
     While all of the above-described devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a putty knife having a handle with a pair of rounded hammer members attached to opposing corners of the distal end of the handle in which a screwdriver bit is also attachable to the distal end of the handle within an orifice. These integrated elements within a single putty knife specifically match the user&#39;s particular individual needs of an easy to use tool which is effective in drywall construction situations. As such, it may now be appreciated that there continues to be a need for a new and improved drywall tool as set for by the present invention which addresses both the problems of ease of use as well as effectiveness of using an integrated tool in construction settings and in this respect, the present invention substantially fulfills this need. 
     Therefore, a need exist for a new and improved multipurpose drywall tool that can be used for pounding down protruding nails and screws as well as a drywall tool that can unscrew or screws down screws. In this respect, the multipurpose drywall tool according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of making available an multipurpose drywall tool so that users can have a fully integrated tool that is capable of fulfilling a myriad of task at the worksite. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present device, according to the principles of the present invention, overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a multipurpose drywall tool comprising a blade attached to the front end of a handle in which the rear corner end of the handle are attached two opposing rounded hardened hammer members. Also attached to the distal end of the handle is attached an engaging means disposed within a orifice in the distal end of the handle. The engaging means for disengagably engaging a screwdriver bit. One preferred configuration of the engaging means is a protrusion attached at an edge of the screwdriver bit and a flange attached at the edge of the orifice, so that the flange is adapted to reversibly receive the protrusion in a frictional interlocking relationship when the screwdriver bit is inserted into the orifice. Yet another preferred configuration of the engaging means comprises a magnet within the orifice, in which the magnet is adapted to reversibly receive the screwdriver bit when the screwdriver bit is inserted into the orifice. 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known type putty knife devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved multipurpose drywall tool, which will be described subsequently in great detail, is to provide a new and improved multipurpose drywall tool which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by the prior art, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a multipurpose drywall tool that comprises a blade attached to the front end of a handle in which the rear corner end of the handle are attached two opposing rounded hardened hammer members. Also attached to the distal end of the handle is attached an engaging means disposed within a orifice in the distal end of the handle. The engaging means for disengagably engaging a screwdriver bit. One preferred configuration of the engaging means is a protrusion attached at an edge of the screwdriver bit and a flange attached at the edge of the orifice, so that the flange is adapted to reversibly receive the protrusion in a frictional interlocking relationship when the screwdriver bit is inserted into the orifice. Yet another preferred configuration of the engaging means comprises a magnet within the orifice, in which the magnet is adapted to reversibly receive the screwdriver bit when the screwdriver bit is inserted into the orifice. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution of the art may be better appreciated. 
     The invention may also include a light source with an electrical power source embedded within the tool handle. The invention may also include a speaker source with an electrical power source embedded within the tool handle. There are of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims attached. 
     Numerous objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading of the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompany drawings. In this respect, before explaining the current embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved multipurpose drywall tool that has all the advantages of the prior art multipurpose drywall tool and none of the disadvantages. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved multipurpose drywall tool that may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved multipurpose drywall tool that has a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such multipurpose storage unit and system economically available to the buying public. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new multipurpose drywall tool that provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thererof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a multipurpose drywall tool for putty knife having a pair of rounded hammer members on opposing corners of the distal end of the handle. This makes it possible to allow the user to pound down nails or screws and the like, with this one integrated tool. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a multipurpose drywall tool having an attachable screwdriver bit mounted within an orifice at the distal end of the handle. This makes it possible for the user to have available a screwdriving means integrated within this present invention to unscrew or to screw screws. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved drywall tool wherein the same utilizes a multiplicity of various tool members mounted to a single structure to accommodate various procedures encountered in drywall construction. 
     Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty that characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompany drawings and description matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one of the preferred embodiments of the multipurpose drywall tool constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a distal end view of the handle of one of the preferred embodiments of the multipurpose drywall tool of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the multipurpose drywall tool of the present invention. 
    
    
     The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the various figures. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 to  3  thereof, a new and improved multipurpose drywall tool embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. One preferred embodiment of the multipurpose drywall tool  10  comprises: a blade  12  which has an edge  14  extending traversely to a longitudinal axis of the blade  12 ; a handle  16  having a proximate and distal end, the distal end of the handle  16  having two opposing corners, the proximate end of the handle  16  attached to the blade  12 ; a screwdriver bit  18 ; an engaging means  20  disposed within a orifice  26  in the distal end of the handle  16 , the engaging means  20  for disengagably engaging the screwdriver bit  18 ; and a pair of rounded hammer members  22  attached to the two opposing corners of the distal end of the handle  16 . 
     Another preferred embodiment of the present invention of a multipurpose drywall tool  10  comprises: a blade  12  having an edge  14  extending traversely to a longitudinal axis of the blade  12 , wherein the length of the edge  14  is at least four inches. The handle  16  having a proximate and distal end, the distal end of the handle  16  having two opposing corners, the proximate end of the handle  16  attached to the blade  12 . A screwdriver bit  18  is selected from the group consisting of a Phillips-head bit and a slotted bit. An engaging means  20  disposed within a orifice  26  in the distal end of the handle  16 . The engaging means  20  for disengagably engaging the screwdriver bit  18  in which the engaging means  20  comprises a magnet within the orifice  26 , the magnet adapted to reversibly receive the screwdriver bit  18  when the screwdriver bit  18  is inserted into the orifice  26 . Finally, a pair of rounded hammer members  22  attached to the two opposing corners of the distal end of the handle  16 . The pair of rounded hammer members  22  are composed of metallic material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, tin, copper, iron, nickel, manganese, titanium, carbon steel, stainless steel, galvanized steel, brass, bronze and mixtures thereof. 
     Yet another preferred embodiment of the multipurpose drywall tool  10  comprises a blade  12  having an edge  14  extending traversely to a longitudinal axis of the blade  12 , wherein the length of the edge  14  is at least four inches and the edge  14  of the blade  12  extends substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the blade  12 . A handle  16  having a proximate and distal end, the distal end of the handle  16  having two opposing corners, the proximate end of the handle  16  attached to the blade  12 . A screwdriver bit  18 , in which the screwdriver bit  18  is selected from the group consisting of a Phillips-head bit and a slotted bit. An engaging means  20  disposed within a orifice  26  in the distal end of the handle  16 . The engaging means  20  for disengagably engaging the screwdriver bit  18  in which the engaging means  20  comprises a magnet within the orifice  26 . The magnet is adapted to reversibly receive the screwdriver bit  18  when the screwdriver bit  18  is inserted into the orifice  26 . A pair of rounded hammer members  22  attached to the two opposing corners of the distal end of the handle  16 , in which the pair of rounded hammer members  22  are composed of metallic material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, tin, copper, iron, nickel, manganese, titanium, carbon steel, stainless steel, galvanized steel, brass, bronze and mixtures thereof. A cubbyhole disposed in the handle  16 , the cubbyhole for slidably engaging the screwdriver bit  18 . A light bulb mounted on the handle  16 , in which the light bulb for illuminating a drywall surface. A switch electrically connected to the light bulb, in which the switch is mounted on the handle  16 . A cavity is located within the handle  16 . A speaker positioned within the cavity of the handle  16 , in which the speaker is electrically connected to the switch. The speaker is capable of making an audible sound when the switch is enabled by a user. Finally, a power supply electrically connected to the switch, the power supply positioned within the cavity of the handle  16 , in which the power supply is a battery. 
     The engaging means  20  of the multipurpose drywall tool  10  may comprise any number of standard commercially available means for securing a screwdriver bit  18  into a socket. One preferred embodiment of the engaging means  20  is a protrusion attached at an edge  14  of the screwdriver bit  18 ; and a flange attached at the edge  14  of the orifice  26 , the flange adapted to reversibly receive the protrusion in a frictional interlocking relationship when the screwdriver bit  18  is inserted into the orifice  26 . Yet another preferred embodiment of the engaging means  20  comprises a magnet within the orifice  26 , in which the magnet is adapted to reversibly receive the screwdriver bit  18  when the screwdriver bit  18  is inserted into the orifice  26 . 
     The edge  14  of the blade  12  of the multipurpose drywall tool  10  may optionally extends substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the blade  12 . The width of the edge  14  on the blade  12  of the multipurpose drywall tool  10  may be any size desirable to the user. One preferred optional width of the edge  14  of the blade  12  is that it is at least four inches. Another preferred optional width of the edge  14  of the blade  12  is that it is at least ten inches. 
     The pair of rounded hammer members  22  of multipurpose drywall tool  10  may be composed of any sturdy material capable of pounding down a nail or a screw. One optional embodiment of the compositional makeup of the rounded hammer members  22  is that they are composed of metallic material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, tin, copper, iron, nickel, manganese, titanium, carbon steel, stainless steel, galvanized steel, brass, bronze and mixtures thereof. 
     The screwdriver bit  18  may optionally be any commonly available screwdriver bits commercially available, for example a Phillips-head bit, a slotted bit, or even a double ended element having a Phillips-head bit at one end and a slotted bit at the other end of the double ended element. 
     The handle  16  of the multipurpose drywall tool  10  may comprise any number of optional additional elements. Such as, an optional cubbyhole built within the handle in which the cubbyhole for slidably engaging the screwdriver bit  18 . Also an optional door may be pivotally hinged to the handle  16  in which the door is for containing the screwdriver bit  18  within the cubbyhole when the door is in a closed position and the door for allowing a user access into the cubbyhole when the door is in an open position. 
     The multipurpose drywall tool  10  may also optionally comprise a light bulb mounted on the handle  16 , in which the light bulb for illuminating a drywall surface. Electrically connected to the light bulb is an optional switch in which the switch mounted on the handle  16 . The handle may also comprise a cavity within the handle  16  and comprise a power supply electrically connected to the switch in which the power supply positioned within the cavity of the handle  16 . The power supply may be a battery. Finally the battery may comprise a rechargeable battery mounted in the handle  16  and having a connector means enabling the rechargeable battery to be recharged from a remote electrical power source. 
     The multipurpose drywall tool  10  may also optionally comprise a speaker means for use by a user in making a loud noise to draw attention to the user in a high noise work environment. The optional speaker means comprises a hollow chamber in the handle; a power supply positioned within the hollow chamber of the handle  16 ; a switch mounted on the handle  16 , the switch electrically connected to the power supply; and a speaker positioned within the hollow chamber of the handle  16 , the speaker electrically connected to the switch, the speaker capable of making an audible sound when the switch is enabled. The power supply may be a battery. The battery may comprise a rechargeable battery mounted in the handle  16  and having a connector means enabling the rechargeable battery to be recharged from a remote electrical power source. 
     Referring to FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of one of the preferred embodiments of the multipurpose drywall tool  10  showing a blade  12  that has an edge  14  extending traversely to a longitudinal axis of the blade  12 . The proximate end of the handle  16  is attached to the blade  12 . A screwdriver bit  18  is attached to the handle  16  via an engaging means  20  disposed within a orifice  26  in the distal end of the handle  16 . Finally, a pair of rounded hammer members  22  attached to the two opposing corners of the distal end of the handle  16 . The exact configuration of the pair of rounded hammer members  22  may optionally comprise any number of different embodiments, so long as the pair of rounded hammer members  22  are sufficiently strong enough to withstand the necessary forces required to pound a nail or a screw through drywall. The configuration shown in FIG. 1 for the pair of rounded hammer members  22  is composed of the butt end of the blade  12  enshrouded with two laminated layers secured to the butt end of the blade  12  with three recessed bolts  24 . Another optional configuration of the pair of rounded hammer members  22  may be composed of individual sheaths around the corners of the distal end of the handle  16 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 2 that illustrates a distal end view of the handle  16  of one of the preferred embodiments of the multipurpose drywall tool  10  of the present invention. The screwdriver bit  18  may optionally be any commonly available screwdriver bits  18  commercially available, for example a Phillips-head bit, a slotted bit, or even a double-ended element having a Phillips-head bit at one end and a slotted bit at the other end of the double ended element. An engaging means  20  for disengagably engaging the screwdriver bits  18  is disposed within a orifice  26  in the distal end of the handle  16 . The engaging means  20  may comprise any number of standard commercially available means for securing a screwdriver bit  18  into a socket. Shown here in FIG. 2 is the engaging means  20  is part of the orifice  26 , in that a octagonally shaped orifice  26  is capable of slideably accepting an octagonally shaped distal end of the screwdriver bits  18 . Another preferred embodiment of the engaging means  20  is a protrusion attached at an edge  14  of the screwdriver bit  18 ; and a flange attached at the edge  14  of the orifice  26 , the flange adapted to reversibly receive the protrusion in a frictional interlocking relationship when the screwdriver bit  18  is inserted into the orifice  26 . Also shown in FIG. 2 is the pair of rounded hammer members  22  attached to the two opposing corners of the distal end of the handle  16 . The exact configuration of the pair of rounded hammer members  22  may optionally comprise any number of different embodiments, so long as the pair of rounded hammer members  22  are sufficiently strong enough to withstand the necessary forces required to pound a nail or a screw through drywall. The configuration shown in FIG. 2 for the pair of rounded hammer members  22  is composed of the butt end of the blade  12  enshrouded with two layers secured to the butt end of the blade  12  with recessed bolts  24 . Another optional configuration of the pair of rounded hammer members  22  may be composed of individual sheaths around the corners of the distal end of the handle  16 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 3 which illustrates a cross sectional view of the multipurpose drywall tool  10  of the present invention showing a blade  12  which has an edge  14  extending traversely to a longitudinal axis of the blade  12 . The proximate end of the handle  16  is attached to the blade  12 . A screwdriver bit  18  is attached to the handle  16  via an engaging means  20  disposed within a orifice  26  in the distal end of the handle  16 . The engaging means  20  configuration illustrated in FIG. 3 is a magnet within the orifice  26 , in which the magnet is adapted to reversibly receive the screwdriver bit  18  when the screwdriver bit  18  is inserted into the orifice  26 . Also shown in FIG. 3 are two layers secured over the butt end of the blade  12  with recessed bolts  24  making up the handle  16  as well as the pair of rounded hammer members  22 . 
     As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     While a preferred embodiment of the multipurpose drywall tool has been described in detail, it should be apparent that modifications and variations thereto are possible, all of which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.