Patent Publication Number: US-2016222678-A1

Title: Disposable Caulk Smoother

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to other tools in the prior art that are used for the smoothing and spreading of dispensed fluid materials that provide for the filling of gaps or the sealing of cracks between two adjacent surfaces, commonly referred to as caulk. Issues with the current state of technology are they are not designed to be disposable, so effort must be applied to clean them so they can be reused. For example U.S. Pat. No. 7,127,769 (Chang and Lee), D634,600 (Gringer, Soled, and Cheng), and D606,375 (Divita). This issue also includes the common use of a human digit of the hand, the caulking soils the digit, and the soiled digit needs to be cleaned, as an un-cleaned digit transfers the dirt and soil to other materials being worked with. Some forms of the prior art must be held at a specific angle or a specific side to be effective. In addition, some forms of the current state of technology or prior art are also rigid, so they do not accommodate well the slight variances in the material being filled or sealed, could damage more delicate surfaces, or catch on minor splinters of wooden surfaces. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The disposable hand tool is comprised of a depressor made of injection molded plastic or cut wood surround on one end by closed cell foam smoothing head, while the depressor extends beyond the foam to form the handle. The depressor has the appropriate shape within the foam head to provide necessary reinforcement and stability to the foam, in order that when the surface of the cellular foam smoothing head makes contact with the caulking material, enough rigidity is provided to transfer pressure as applied variably by the user with the handle to smooth the previously dispensed caulking material. The pliability of the foam head accommodates and flexes to variances in the surfaces being joined or filled by the caulking material, the foam smoothing head is effective from a number of angles, and can be turned over if caulking material collects on one side being used, or easily wiped clean. This invention improves on the prior art in that it is very simple and easy to use. It is disposable so while cleanable, particularly with latex based caulking material, does not have to be cleaned after use, and prevents fingers of the hand from becoming soiled by the caulking material. The cellular foam smoothing head is pliable so more readily adapts to variance in material surfaces, thus avoiding potential damage to more delicate surfaces and the catching of wood splinters. The foam smoothing head is also effective from a number of angles and sides. If caulking material collects on one side of the tool, it can be turned over and the other side used, or easily wiped clean if desired. 
     In a preferred form, the depressor widens to a rounded triangular or arrow shape encased in a conical foam head, the shape of the depressor stick within the foam secures the depressor within the foam smoothing head, and also provides rigidity for the transfer of pressure from the handle. In an alternate preferred form, the depressor and foam head is wider and flatter to accommodate flat surfaces. In any preferred form the foam smoothing head provides a surface for smoothing the previously dispensed caulking material, adapts to variances in the surfaces being sealed or filled, avoids the possibility of damage or gouging the surfaces being joined, can be turned over and another side used if one side collects too much caulking, and it eliminates the need to clean after use by being disposable, but the composition is such that it can be easily cleaned if desired. The tool is simple to use. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, shown smoothing an applied bead of caulking material. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the tool in  FIG. 1   
         FIG. 3  is a sectional front view of the same tool in  FIG. 2   
         FIG. 4  is a sectional side view of the same tool 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom sectional view of the same tool as depicted in  FIG. 3   
         FIG. 6  is a front view of an alternate preferred embodiment 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of the same tool in  FIG. 6   
         FIG. 8  is a sectional front view of the same tool in  FIG. 6   
         FIG. 9  is a sectional side view of the same tool 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  a preferred embodiment of the disposable caulk smoother  10  of the present invention is shown as an example of typical use. In this perspective a bead of caulk  3 - a  is depicted as having been laid to fill any gaps between adjoining surface  1  in this depiction conceived as a wall surface, and surface  2 , some other material adjacent to surface  1  such as baseboard. The disposable caulk smoother  10  is represented as would be common usage. The conical closed cell foam smoothing head  15  fully encapsulates the end of a depressor  20  via insertion of the depressor head  25  (See  FIG. 2 ) into the foam smoothing head  15 , or injection of closed cell foam around the depressor head to form the foam smoothing head  15 . The extension of the depressor  20  beyond the foam smoothing head forms the handle  30 . The user will grasp the handle  30  and draw the foam smoothing head  15  of the tool  10  over a previously applied bead of caulk  3 - a  applying pressure as desired resulting in a smoothed caulk bead  3 - b . The action is simple to execute, and afterward the tool can be disposed of, or because of the closed cell structure of the foam smoothing head  15 , easily cleaned if desired. The closed cell structure of the foam smoothing head  15  also provides a smooth but flexible surface that will adapt to slight changes and variations in surfaces being sealed or filled. The conical shape of the foam smoothing head  15  in this embodiment also allows for the smoothing of caulk from multiple sides of the same. Other conceived embodiments hold to the same principle that the shape of the depressor head gives structure to the foam smoothing head and assists in keeping the foam smoothing head on the depressor, while the foam smoothing head provides an improved surface for the smoothing of caulk. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the two major elements of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, disposable caulk smoother  10  can be seen. The depressor,  20  formed from a single piece of injection molded plastic or cut wood, has the elements of the depressor head  25  which in the embodiment shown consists of a rounded triangular or arrow shaped end, and in the illustration of  FIG. 2  is depicted with broken lines to show that it would not naturally appear but be covered by the foam smoothing head  15  (see  FIG. 1 ), and as a single piece extends beyond the foam smoothing head  15  forming the handle  30 . The conically shaped foam smoothing head  15  provides the malleable surface conducive to the smoothing of the caulk, and completely encompasses the depressor head  25 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a frontal sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the current invention exposing the depressor head  25 . The foam smoothing head  15  completely wraps the depressor head  25 . 
     Referring  FIG. 4 , side sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the current invention. The two major elements of a preferred embodiment of the present invention can be seen. The depressor,  20  formed from a single piece of injection molded plastic or cut wood, in this embodiment is thinner on the side, has the elements of the depressor head  25  which in the embodiment shown consists of a rounded triangular or arrow shaped end, again moderately thinner from the side, and as a single piece extends beyond the foam smoothing head  15  forming the handle  25 . The conically shaped foam smoothing head  15 , show in section to expose the depressor head  25 , provides the malleable surface conducive to the smoothing of the caulk, and completely covers the depressor head  25 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a bottom sectional view of the front view of  FIG. 3 , exposing again the depressor head  25 , fully encased by the closed cell foam smoothing head  15 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , a front view of an alternate preferred embodiment of the current invention adapted for flat surfaces and the safe removal of excess caulking material. This preferred embodiment of the current invention disposable caulk smoother  11  has the same general components as the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , but is thinner in depth and wider to accommodate flat surfaces. It consists of a flexible injection molded plastic depressor  21 , surrounded on one end by the closed cell foam smoothing head  16 , extending above that is the handle  31 . The flexible foam smoothing head  16  provides the surface for smoothing and spreading of caulk, is more forgiving to inconsistencies in the surface, less likely to damage delicate surfaces, can be turned over if one side accumulates too much material, and is disposable or easily cleaned if desired. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , a side view of the same tool in  FIG. 6 , showing the disposable caulk smoother  11  presenting that this preferred embodiment of the current invention has a thinner depressor  21 , handle  31 , and foam smoothing head  16 , so will have more flexibility for flat surfaces. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , a sectional front view of the same preferred embodiment of the disposable caulk smoother  11 , showing the foam smoothing head  16  cut away to expose the depressor head  26  of the depressor  21  which extends up to form the handle  31 . The depressor head  26  is covered with the cellular foam smoothing head  16 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , a sectional side view of the same preferred embodiment of the disposable caulk smoother  11 , showing the foam smoothing head  16  cut away to expose the depressor head  26  of the depressor  21  which extends up to form the handle  31 . The depressor head  26  is covered with the closed cell foam smoothing head  16 .