Patent Publication Number: US-2013227796-A1

Title: Multi-Functional Filler Processor

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to a hand tool and, more particularly, to a multi-functional hand tool for processing filler in a slit or corner between two objects. 
     2. Related Prior Art 
     It is necessary to provide filler in a split or corner between two objects during decoration of a house for example. Such filler includes, but not limited to, concrete and silicone. It is necessary to process the filler after it is filled in the split or corner. A worker may use his or her finger to process the filler. However, the filler is not satisfactory aesthetically. Hence, it is preferred to use a tool to process the filler. 
     To process the filler, needed are various tools such as a scrapper for making a flat face on the filler, a towel for making an arched face on the filler and shovel for removing used filler. Each tool is used for a unique purpose and necessary for processing the filler. However, it bothers a user to carry individual tools. 
     The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     It is the primary objective of the present invention to provide an easy, multi-functional filler processor. 
     To achieve the foregoing objectives, the multi-functional filler processor includes a handle and three tool bits. The first tool bit is connected to a first end of the handle. The second tool bit is connected to a second end of the handle. The third tool bit is movably attached to the handle between an idle position and an active position. 
     In another aspect, the multi-functional filler processor further includes a first sliding element movably connected to the handle, and the third tool bit is connected to the first sliding element. 
     In another aspect, the handle includes at least one ridge formed thereon, and the first sliding element includes at least one groove for receiving the ridge. 
     In another aspect, the handle includes a slot longitudinally defined therein, and the first sliding element includes at least one stem movably placed in the slot. 
     In another aspect, the multi-functional filler processor further includes a second sliding element placed against and at least one screw driven in the stem through the second sliding element. 
     In another aspect, the handle includes two recesses defined therein, and the second sliding element includes a boss inserted in the recesses corresponding to the idle and active positions. 
     In another aspect, the first tool bit is a scrapper. 
     In another aspect, the second tool bit is a shovel. 
     In another aspect, the multi-functional filler processor further includes at least one fastener for connecting the shovel to the handle. 
     In another aspect, the third tool bit is a towel. 
     In another aspect, the third tool bit is detachably connected to the first sliding element. 
     In another aspect, the first sliding element includes an insert extending from an end, and the third tool bit includes a pocket for receiving the insert. 
     In another aspect, the first sliding element includes two tabs extending from the insert, and the third tool bit includes two bores for receiving the tabs. 
     In another aspect, the handle is made of an arched configuration. 
     Other objectives, advantages and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description referring to the attached drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will be described via detailed illustration of two embodiments referring to the drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a multi-functional filler processor according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is another exploded view of the multi-functional filler processor shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the multi-functional filler processor shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is another perspective view of the multi-functional filler processor shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a right side view of the multi-functional filler processor shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the multi-functional filler processor shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is another cross-sectional view of the multi-functional filler processor shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the multi-functional filler processor in another position than shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 9  is another perspective view of the multi-functional filler processor shown in  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a right side view of the multi-functional filler processor shown in  FIG. 8 ; and 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a multi-functional filler processor according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is shown a multi-functional filler processor according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The multi-functional filler processor includes a handle  10  and three tool bits  20 ,  30  and  50 . The first tool bit  20  is connected to a first end  11  of the handle  10 . The second tool bit  30  is connected to a second end  12  of the handle  10 . A sliding device  60  is movably connected to the handle  10 . The third tool bit  50  is detachably attached to the sliding device  60  by a releasable connector device  70 . 
     The handle  10  includes two ridges  62 , a slot  63 , two grooves  671  ( FIG. 7 ), two ribs  64  and two pairs of recesses  68 . The ridges  62  longitudinally extend on an upper face of the handle  10 . The slot  63  is longitudinally defined in the handle  10 . The slot  63  includes two ends  631  and  632 . The first end  631  of the slot  63  is placed near the first tool bit  20 . The second end  632  of the slot  63  is placed near the second tool bit  30 . The grooves  671  are defined in a lower face of the handle  10 . The ribs  64  extend from the lower face of the handle  10 . The pairs of recesses  68  are defined in the ribs  64 . 
     The first tool bit  20  is a scraper used to make a flat face on filler in a slit or corner between two objects. Preferably, the first tool bit  20  and the handle  10  are made in one piece. However, the first tool bit  20  and the handle  10  may be made two pieces and connected to each other. 
     The second tool bit  30  is a shovel used to remove filler from a slit or corner between two objects. Therefore, the second tool bit  30  is made of metal. The handle  10  is made of plastics or rubber to provide a soft feel to a user. The second tool bit  30  is connected to the handle  10  by two pins or rivets  31 . 
     The third tool bit  50  is a trowel used to make a beautiful arched face on filler in a slit or corner between two objects. The third tool bit  50  includes a tip  51 , a pocket  72  and two bores  74 . The tip  51  is a rounded tip used to make an arched face on filler in a slit or corner between two objects. The pocket  72  is defined in the third tool bit  50  opposite to the tip  51 . The bores  74  are in communication with the pocket  72 . 
     The sliding device  60  includes two sliding elements  40  and  67  and two screws  66  in addition to the ridges  62 , slot  63 , ribs  64  and pairs of recesses  68  of the handle  10 . 
     The first sliding element  40  includes two grooves  61  and two stems  65 . The grooves  61  are longitudinally defined in a lower face of the first sliding element  40 . The stems  65  extend from the lower face of the first sliding element  40 . The stems  65  are placed between the grooves  61 . The first sliding element  40  further includes an insert  71  extending from an end and two tabs  73  extending from the insert  71 . 
     The second sliding element  67  includes a pair of bosses  69  formed on an upper side and two apertures defined therein. The pair of bosses  69  is made corresponding to the pairs of recesses  68 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 through 7 , the handle  10  is placed between the first sliding element  40  and the second sliding element  67 . The screws  66  are driven in the stems  65  via the apertures of the second sliding element  67  and the slot  63 . The screws  66  are movable in the slot  63  so that the sliding device  60  is movable relative to the handle  10 . The grooves  61  receive the ridges  62  to prevent lateral movement of the first sliding element  40  on the handle  10  and ensure smooth longitudinal movement of the first sliding device  40  on the handle  10 . Two lateral edges of the second sliding element  67  are placed in the grooves  671  to ensure smooth movement of the second sliding device  60  beneath the handle  10 . 
     The third tool bit  50  is detachably connected to the first sliding element  40 . The pocket  72  receives the insert  71 . The bores  74  receive the tabs  73 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 5 , the third tool bit  50  is placed in the idle position. In the idle position, the third tool bit  50  is placed above the handle  10 . The operation of the first tool bit  20  is not interfered with by the third tool bit  50 . 
     The user can push the third tool bit  50  to the active position shown in  FIGS. 8 through 10  from the idle position. In the active position, the third tool bit  50  extends beyond the first tool bit  20 . The operation of the third tool bit  50  is not hindered by the first tool bit  20 . 
     The slot  63  and the stems  65  together limit the movement of the third tool bit  50 . When one of the stems  65  reaches the first end  631  of the slot  63 , the third tool bit  50  reaches the idle position. When the other stem  65  reaches the second end  632  of the slot  63 , the third tool bit  50  reaches the active position. In the idle position, the pair of bosses  69  is placed in one of the pairs of recesses  68 , thus retaining the third tool bit  50  in the idle position. In the active position, the pair of bosses  69  is placed in the other pair of recesses  68 , thus retaining the third tool bit  50  in the active position. Thus, the third tool bit  50  is placed the idle or active position unless the user pushes it intentionally. 
     Due to the use of the sliding device  60 , the third tool bit  50  can be connected to the handle  10  in addition to the first tool bit  20  and the second tool bit  30 . The operation of any of the tool bits  20 ,  30  and  50  does not interfere with that of any other tool bit. Moreover, nothing sticks out of the handle  10  so that the profile of the entire multi-functional filler processor is limited. 
     The handle  10  is made of an arched configuration to facilitate the handling thereof by a user. Accordingly, the first sliding element  40    sliding device  60  are made of arched configurations in compliance with that of the handle  10 . Except facilitating the handling, the arched configuration of the handle  10  facilitates the retaining of the third tool bit  50  in the idle or active position. Particularly, in the active position shown in  FIG. 10 , the multi-functional filler processor is subject to a force as indicated by an arrow head A, and there is a counterforce as indicated by an arrow head B, the arched configuration of the handle  10  facilitates the exerting of the force against the counterforce, i.e., the user firmly holds the third tool bit  50 . 
     The releasable connector device  70  includes the insert  71  and tabs  73  of the first sliding element  40  and the pocket  72  and bores  74  of the third tool bit  50 . The third tool bit  50  is made of a flexible material. By a force, the third tool bit  50  is easily attached to the first sliding element  40  while the pocket  72  receives the insert  71  and the bores  74  receive the tabs  73 . By a force in another direction, the third tool bit  50  is easily detached from the first sliding element  40  while the insert  71  is moved out of the pocket  72  and the tabs  73  are moved out of the bores  74 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 11 , there is shown a multi-functional filler processor according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment is like the first embodiment except that the third tool bit  50  includes a chamfered tip  51 . Due to the use of the releasable connector device  70 , a tool bit with a tip shown in  FIG. 3  or  11  or any other proper tip can easily and readily be attached to or removed from the handle  10 . 
     The present invention has been described via the detailed illustration of the embodiments. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims.